Monday 24 January 2011

I... did not know that

The DMG p. 82 states, regarding healing and recovery from 0 Hit Points and lower:

When any creature is brought to 0 hit points (optionally as low as -3 hit points if from the same blow which brought the total to 0), it is unconscious. In each of the next succeeding rounds 1 additional (negative) point will be lost until -10 is reached and the creature dies. Such loss and death are caused from bleeding, shock, convulsions, non-respiration, and similar causes. It ceases immediately on any round a friendly creature administers aid to the unconscious one. Aid consists of binding wounds, starting respiration, administering a draught (spirits, healing potion, etc.), or otherwise doing whatever is necessary to restore life.

Any character brought to 0 (or fewer) hit points and then revived will remain in a coma for 1-6 turns. Thereafter, he or she must rest for a full week, minimum. He or she will be incapable of any activity other than that necessary to move slowly to a place of rest and eat and sleep when there. The character cannot attack, defend, cast spells, use magic devices, carry burdens, run, study, research, or do anything else. This is true even if cure spells and/or healing potions are given to him or her, although if a heal spell is bestowed the prohibition no longer applies.
(Emphasis is mine)

I confess that I had never read this passage until it was revealed to me in this thread on the K&K boards, and we've therefore never played it that way. When cured back up over 0hp, our characters have been up and about, just as spry as ever and raring to go.

However, it does tickle my "Evil DM" spot.... maybe I'll start using the rule as written. Muahahahahahaaaa......

If I were going to create a revivication spell usable at lower levels than Heal, I'd probably give it a down-side. I'd have it knock off, say, 1d4 years off the character's life-span due to the stress of being forced back into wakeful usefulness after having been so badly traumatized.

That wouldn't have much immediate impact (none at all in a one-shot session), and it would allow the character to get back into the fray in short order, but it would have a cumulative effect over the course of a campaign that would make it an emergency measure rather than standard practice. Players would have to think twice about whether they want to accept an inevitable early decrepitude in return for immediate gratification.

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