D&D 5E Resistance and odd - damage: how many hit points of damage does a character take?

[Strider1973]

Hi everybody, not a big issue here, but, say a raging Barbarian (with damage resistance against slashing, piercing and bludgeoning damage) has been hit for 9 points of damage before applying resistance: how many hit points of damage does he actually receive? 4 or 5?
Many Thanks, Happy gaming and Happy Life!

 

[i_dont_meta]

Don't have my PHB in front of me, but unless otherwise stated, you round ALL fractions down.

 

[Strider1973]

Many thanks, I was just wondering if the rounded down fraction is the damage you absorb or the damage you take: so did you absorb or take 4 damage?
Thanks again

 

[CrimsonCarcharodon]

As far as I understand it, you round down the damage you take, not the damage you resist. So in this case, that 9 points of damage turns into 4 points of damage.

 

[Prakriti]

The raging Barbarian takes 4 damage.

Because 9/2=4.5, which is rounded down to 4.

100% confident on this one.

 

[the Jester]

The raging Barbarian takes 4 damage.

Because 9/2=4.5, which is rounded down to 4.

100% confident on this one.

This is absolutely correct.

 

[TwoSix]

Many thanks, I was just wondering if the rounded down fraction is the damage you absorb or the damage you take: so did you absorb or take 4 damage?
Thanks again

The concept of "absorbing the damage" only exists in the fiction, not the mechanics. The mechanic is one particular roll, the roll for damage, and the result of that roll is halved. So it's the damage roll you round down.

Conceptually, I understand the confusion because the barbarian's rage "feels" like more of an active element in play, and is thus more associated with the dice roll.

 

[cmad1977]

I round fractions in the heroes favor. If they’re taking damage in round down. If they’re dealing damage I round up.