@JackbyDev@programming.dev @Kerrigor@kbin.social I mostly disagree here. I mean, yes, if the DM has set up a situation where the PCs are railroaded into a fight where they are required to "do damage" to something they have no way to do damage to, that's pretty lousy.

Usually, though, the PCs could flee, attempt to resolve the situation by "non-combat" means, or otherwise just avoid getting in that situation to begin with.

I do fully embrace your earlier point about non-corporeal beings hurting corporeal beings: I like the idea that there ought to be potential "enemies" with that limitation who can only harm the PCs indirectly (through trickery and deception, distraction, or some manner of influence over something that can hurt them). Not every opponent needs to be a "combat statblock".

"hey, this world has magic in it, let's all decide to go in fully unprepared to deal with it!" is not the fault of the DM