Damage types are grouped into three families. Many apply a status (in brackets).
Non-elemental
- Sharp. Attacks that cut, slash or pierce through objects. May cause [Bleed].
- Blunt. Attacks that pummel, smash and deal blunt-force trauma. [Daze]
Elemental
- Fire. May cause [Burn].
- Ice. A chilling, frigid blast of energy. [Freeze]
- Nature
- Water
- Electric. [Stun]
- Sonic
- Air. Represents the constantly flowing nature of air. (Effect unfinished: probably moves the target.)
- Toxic. [Poison]
Mystical
- Force
- Psychic
- Necrotic. [Decay]
- Radiant
- Spirit
- Time. [Haste] and [Slow]
- Space
Which elemental damage types?
- Master Document V01: Fire, Ice, Nature, Water, Electric, Sonic, Air, Toxic.
- Additional Info notes: Fire, Cold (covers water and ice), Nature, Electric, Sonic, Toxic. No separate Water or Air.
Also decide whether Ice becomes Cold. The Arcanist’s Spell Secrets already says “cold”.
Type analogies
The Additional Info notes map each damage type to Pokémon types as a design reference:
| Damage type | Covers |
|---|---|
| Fire | fire |
| Cold | water, ice |
| Nature | grass, bug, rock, ground |
| Electric | electric |
| Sonic | flying |
| Toxic | poison |
| Force | dragon |
| Psychic | psychic |
| Necrotic | dark |
| Radiant | fairy |
| Spirit | ghost |
Spirit damage
Spirit damage directly affects the spiritual essence of a creature. It can damage a target that is projecting its consciousness or possessing another creature, even if the target’s body is elsewhere. The possessed creature’s body isn’t harmed by the attack. Spirit damage is generally ineffective against creatures that have no spirit, such as constructs.
Damage sources
Damage comes from one of three sources: Mundane, Magical or Supernatural. (The Berserker’s rage already resists damage “from mundane and supernatural sources”.)
Damage values
A shorthand for how much damage something deals:
| Value | Meaning |
|---|---|
| [A] | Minor: small and usually continuous damage, like burning, poison and bleed |
| [B] | Light: normal damage of light weapons like daggers |
| [C] | Moderate |
| [D] | Heavy |
| [E] | Massive |
Bonus damage adds your tier level.
Design direction
The notes list “Removal of piercing damage”, so the old slashing/piercing/bludgeoning split becomes Sharp and Blunt. Several class drafts still use the old names and should be updated.
See Conditions and Statuses and Elemental Blights.