1 - Return of negative hit points. A player who has lost more hit points in the negative than his maximum hit points dies instantly. 2 - When a player drops to 0 hit points or less, that player must do a Death Saving Throw immediately. 3 - When an unconscious player is hit by an attack, that player no longer receives an automatic death save failure. 4 - Each time a player misses a Death Saving Throw, that player gains a level of exhaustion. 5 - A player who receives any form of healing can use Hits Dice to restore their hit points to 0 without exceeding it before receiving the healing.
Pro - There is now a big difference between getting hit by a giant or a goblin when a player is low on health. Pro - Falling below zero now leaves its mark. (Hits Dice & Exhaustion)
Exemple 1 - The hero has 5 health points and is hit by an attack inflicting 15 HP. The hero is therefore now at -10 HP. 2 - The hero must now make a Death Saving Throw roll immediately. He rolls a 3 and misses the roll. He gains a level of exhaustion 3 - While on the ground, he is attacked by an adjacent enemy who hits him (automatic critical) for 15 HP. The hero is now at -25 HP. 4 - Standard rule applies. He gets a 14 for his Death Saving Throw. 5 - The cleric cast a Healing Word on the Hero. He therefore uses his Hits Dice one by one to reduce his life points to 0 before receiving the HP of the Healing Word.
So the difference in this example is that the Hero now has 1 level of exhustion and probably 5 or 6 hits less than the standard rules. Hit dice that he will not have if he falls back in combat.
You need more healing. Or stay unconscious until long rest. He will be able to use hit dice to go back in the positive at this point. Like normal rule of hit dice use.
Is there any positive side to succeeding a death saving throw with these rules aside from simply avoiding more exhaustion? In current rules 3 successes stabilizes a character.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I know what you're thinking: "In that flurry of blows, did he use all his ki points, or save one?" Well, are ya feeling lucky, punk?
1 - Return of negative hit points. A player who has lost more hit points in the negative than his maximum hit points dies instantly.
2 - When a player drops to 0 hit points or less, that player must do a Death Saving Throw immediately.
3 - When an unconscious player is hit by an attack, that player no longer receives an automatic death save failure.
4 - Each time a player misses a Death Saving Throw, that player gains a level of exhaustion.
5 - A player who receives any form of healing can use Hits Dice to restore their hit points to 0 without exceeding it before receiving the healing.
Pro - There is now a big difference between getting hit by a giant or a goblin when a player is low on health.
Pro - Falling below zero now leaves its mark. (Hits Dice & Exhaustion)
Exemple
1 - The hero has 5 health points and is hit by an attack inflicting 15 HP. The hero is therefore now at -10 HP.
2 - The hero must now make a Death Saving Throw roll immediately. He rolls a 3 and misses the roll. He gains a level of exhaustion
3 - While on the ground, he is attacked by an adjacent enemy who hits him (automatic critical) for 15 HP. The hero is now at -25 HP.
4 - Standard rule applies. He gets a 14 for his Death Saving Throw.
5 - The cleric cast a Healing Word on the Hero. He therefore uses his Hits Dice one by one to reduce his life points to 0 before receiving the HP of the Healing Word.
So the difference in this example is that the Hero now has 1 level of exhustion and probably 5 or 6 hits less than the standard rules. Hit dice that he will not have if he falls back in combat.
Please give me some comments.
Thank
Maxime Lottinville
I like it. It doesn't change the rules too much, uses most of the same mechanics, etc. I especially enjoyed the use of exhaustion.
My only good homebrews: Races, Subclasses.
An aspiring DM and Homebrewer. Ask me if you need anything.
what happens if the hit dice don't bring them up to 0? EG they are on -10 with 4 hit dice left, and roll 4 1's, making it -6? are they dead?
Make your Artificer work with any other class with 174 Multiclassing Feats for your Artificer Multiclass Character!
DM's Guild Releases on This Thread Or check them all out on DMs Guild!
DrivethruRPG Releases on This Thread - latest release: My Character is a Werewolf: balanced rules for Lycanthropy!
I have started discussing/reviewing 3rd party D&D content on Substack - stay tuned for semi-regular posts!
You need more healing. Or stay unconscious until long rest.
He will be able to use hit dice to go back in the positive at this point. Like normal rule of hit dice use.
Is there any positive side to succeeding a death saving throw with these rules aside from simply avoiding more exhaustion? In current rules 3 successes stabilizes a character.
I know what you're thinking: "In that flurry of blows, did he use all his ki points, or save one?" Well, are ya feeling lucky, punk?
If you got 3 Succes you can use Hit Dice to go back to 0 HP, and you stop making death saving throw. Like the standard rule.