I'm kinda new to all of this. I've been reading a lot about D&D and DMing and most of it is logical and straight forward but there's a thing on Critical Role I didn't understand.
A player attacked (unarmed strike, fist to the face) a creature and rolled a d20 to see if it hit. It was a 16. The creature's AC is lower than 16 so it did hit. Next she rolled 1d6 for damage. She rolled a 6. Then the DM rolled a d20 and rolled a natural 20. He described the attack as if it did no damage at all. (The moment I'm describing: https://youtu.be/byva0hOj8CU?t=10385)
I don't understand why the DM would roll a d20 when the player already knows she hit and did 6 damage. Was that a saving throw or something? Was the DM checking something here. I thought if the attack hits, and you roll your damage it's done. Or is this something specific for unarmed attacks?
My guess is that it is this rule (from the zombie stat block) that Mercer is checking for:
Undead Fortitude. If damage reduces the zombie to 0 hit points, it must make a Constitution saving throw with a DC of 5 + the damage taken, unless the damage is radiant or from a critical hit. On a success, the zombie drops to 1 hit point instead.
My guess is that it is this rule (from the zombie stat block) that Mercer is checking for:
Undead Fortitude. If damage reduces the zombie to 0 hit points, it must make a Constitution saving throw with a DC of 5 + the damage taken, unless the damage is radiant or from a critical hit. On a success, the zombie drops to 1 hit point instead.
Oh that makes sense! Thanks for your reply.
And this trait happens every time the zombie is reduces to 0 hit points? So it doesn't die until it fails this Con saving throw right? Or does it only happens once in combat?
Yes, you are correct, it doesn't die unless it fails its saving throw or the damage that brings it to 0 HPs is from radiant damage or a crit. As a DM however, I would certainly have fudged the con save at some moment. When four players are just slashing at a zombie until it fails a con save, it's time to just say "you hack it into little pieces" regardless of the rolls. It wouldn't surprise me if that natural 1 on the next save throw were a little "fudgy" :-)
And this trait happens every time the zombie is reduces to 0 hit points? So it doesn't die until it fails this Con saving throw right? Or does it only happens once in combat?
Every time, though it's not going to happen very many times on average, the zombie has a +3 Con save so even a 1 point hit gives a 10% chance of failing. The average effect when beating up zombies with low level melee attacks is something like +15 hit points, which is very very tough for CR 1/4, but they have lousy AC and attacks.
I wouldn't describe it as not taking damage, though. I'd describe it as taking damage and keeping coming.
Mercer clearly, when this happened, described the zombie as taking deadly damage and then healing it. For instance, things like, the jaw breaks off from the blow, but then snaps back into place. The snapping back is it recovering from 0 hp.
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WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
Mercer clearly, when this happened, described the zombie as taking deadly damage and then healing it. For instance, things like, the jaw breaks off from the blow, but then snaps back into place. The snapping back is it recovering from 0 hp.
That's his choice of description. It's probably not what I would do, but there's no specific flavor text on that ability so it could be anything.
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Hi guys,
I'm kinda new to all of this. I've been reading a lot about D&D and DMing and most of it is logical and straight forward but there's a thing on Critical Role I didn't understand.
A player attacked (unarmed strike, fist to the face) a creature and rolled a d20 to see if it hit. It was a 16. The creature's AC is lower than 16 so it did hit. Next she rolled 1d6 for damage. She rolled a 6. Then the DM rolled a d20 and rolled a natural 20. He described the attack as if it did no damage at all. (The moment I'm describing: https://youtu.be/byva0hOj8CU?t=10385)
I don't understand why the DM would roll a d20 when the player already knows she hit and did 6 damage. Was that a saving throw or something? Was the DM checking something here. I thought if the attack hits, and you roll your damage it's done. Or is this something specific for unarmed attacks?
Can someone elaborate please?
My guess is that it is this rule (from the zombie stat block) that Mercer is checking for:
Undead Fortitude. If damage reduces the zombie to 0 hit points, it must make a Constitution saving throw with a DC of 5 + the damage taken, unless the damage is radiant or from a critical hit. On a success, the zombie drops to 1 hit point instead.
Ludo ergo sum!
Oh that makes sense! Thanks for your reply.
And this trait happens every time the zombie is reduces to 0 hit points? So it doesn't die until it fails this Con saving throw right? Or does it only happens once in combat?
No problem :-)
Yes, you are correct, it doesn't die unless it fails its saving throw or the damage that brings it to 0 HPs is from radiant damage or a crit. As a DM however, I would certainly have fudged the con save at some moment. When four players are just slashing at a zombie until it fails a con save, it's time to just say "you hack it into little pieces" regardless of the rolls. It wouldn't surprise me if that natural 1 on the next save throw were a little "fudgy" :-)
Ludo ergo sum!
Every time, though it's not going to happen very many times on average, the zombie has a +3 Con save so even a 1 point hit gives a 10% chance of failing. The average effect when beating up zombies with low level melee attacks is something like +15 hit points, which is very very tough for CR 1/4, but they have lousy AC and attacks.
I wouldn't describe it as not taking damage, though. I'd describe it as taking damage and keeping coming.
Yes those are Zombies.
Mercer clearly, when this happened, described the zombie as taking deadly damage and then healing it. For instance, things like, the jaw breaks off from the blow, but then snaps back into place. The snapping back is it recovering from 0 hp.
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
This is why fighting zombies is the worst.
That's his choice of description. It's probably not what I would do, but there's no specific flavor text on that ability so it could be anything.