I am a DM for an Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden game and my players found the Shield Guardian Amulet and the shield guardian to match. We then had a little combat encounter to do with the secrets and it resulted in the players shield guardian being dropped to 0hp.
In this instance, what happens to the shield guardian? Is it now dead and destroyed? Is the magic gone?
I kinda just treated it like any old monster but under the players control and given it wasn't exactly a living organism I didn't give it death saves, so to me when it dropped to 0 HP, it "died". Has anyone run it any differently or was it meant to be run differently
The shield guardian keep going for some time. While this particular shield guardian amulet is a rare magic item that requires attunement to activate and control the shield guardian, it otherwise functions as described in the shield guardian's entry in Monster Manual, meaning it may act normally. As a matter of fact it already did once before.
This shield guardian survived the fall of Ythryn, although its master did not. After the wizard's tower crashed, the guardian left the spire to go find help but got buried in an avalanche. It eventually shut down.
Most DMs have a monster die the instant it drops to 0 hit points, rather than having it fall unconscious and make death saving throws.
Mighty villains and special nonplayer characters are common exceptions; the DM might have them fall unconscious and follow the same rules as player characters.
Monster Death. A monster dies the instant it drops to 0 Hit Points, although a Dungeon Master can ignore this rule for an individual monster and treat it like a character.
Note, however, that revivify can be cast on a construct.
The shield guardian keep going for some time. While this particular shield guardian amulet is a rare magic item that requires attunement to activate and control the shield guardian, it otherwise functions as described in the shield guardian's entry in Monster Manual, meaning it may act normally. As a matter of fact it already did once before.
This shield guardian survived the fall of Ythryn, although its master did not. After the wizard's tower crashed, the guardian left the spire to go find help but got buried in an avalanche. It eventually shut down.
Im struggling to see what point you're tryna make here apologies.
In this instance, what happens to the shield guardian? Is it now dead and destroyed? Is the magic gone?
I kinda just treated it like any old monster but under the players control and given it wasn't exactly a living organism I didn't give it death saves, so to me when it dropped to 0 HP, it "died". Has anyone run it any differently or was it meant to be run differently
You as a DM are free to do as you like. As @Pantagruel666 posted the common advice from the rules is to have monsters die at 0hp but to make exceptions for story reasons for any NPC/monster you like. IMO this would certainly qualify for that (unless you think it might unbalance the adventure, IIRC it doesn't).
Also one thing to note, Icewind Dale is based on the 2014 rules and those are much harsher on being able to heal constructs, the 2024 rules allow most (if not all) spells that heals to also work on constructs so it wouldn't be unreasonable to allow for 2014 spells to do so in a pinch if it helps your story along.
Hit Points. Every creature in D&D has a number of Hit Points. This number reflects the damage a creature can take before it falls unconscious or is defeated. When a character or creature is damaged by an attack, trap, or hazard in the game, the amount of damage dealt is subtracted from the character or creature’s Hit Points.
If a creature reaches 0 Hit Points, they are defeated. The players can decide if this means a creature is dead or unconscious.
When a character reaches 0 Hit Points, they are unconscious. In this adventure, a character at 0 Hit Points remains unconscious until they regain Hit Points through healing or until the end of the encounter, at which point they regain 1 Hit Point automatically. The adventure details other ways to regain Hit Points.
I thought for a moment that blue line might be about Knocking Out a Creature, but the actual rule is different (only melee attacks, and the bit about 1 HP):
When you would reduce a creature to 0 Hit Points with a melee attack, you can instead reduce the creature to 1 Hit Point and give it the Unconscious condition.
EDIT: if I'm adding this reply here, it's just because the monster death rule was quoted and commented, and I don't think this deserves its own thread xD
Hit Points. Every creature in D&D has a number of Hit Points. This number reflects the damage a creature can take before it falls unconscious or is defeated. When a character or creature is damaged by an attack, trap, or hazard in the game, the amount of damage dealt is subtracted from the character or creature’s Hit Points.
If a creature reaches 0 Hit Points, they are defeated. The players can decide if this means a creature is dead or unconscious.
When a character reaches 0 Hit Points, they are unconscious. In this adventure, a character at 0 Hit Points remains unconscious until they regain Hit Points through healing or until the end of the encounter, at which point they regain 1 Hit Point automatically. The adventure details other ways to regain Hit Points.
Don't see what the issue is tbh, technically that is the same as always, 0 = dead unless you have reasons for it not to.
Also wasn't that Borderlands stuff aimed at kids? Could well be the reason for the kinder language.
With that wording in blue, it seems that you could apply the Knocking Out rule for ranged attacks.
I really don't get what the issue is tbh, it's the same rule as always. At 0hp a PC is unconscious and a monster is dead (but the DM can decide to use the PC rules, i.e being unconscious, for any monster/NPC that he feels deserve it).
This rule differ from PHB where a creature reduce to 0 HP by a trap or hazard can have player decide it's unconscious, such as companion, animal etc...meanhile in the PHB it's when you (the attacker) would reduce a creature to 0 Hit Points with a melee attack, you can instead reduce the creature to 1 Hit Point and give it the Unconscious condition.
They probably meant the player as in the one controlling the creature defeated.
Nah this is a very minor variation of the normal rule for going to 0hp. The text in this adventure also doesn't have characters make death saves or anything, they just stay unconscious.
But as this is a short adventure specifically aimed at children I don't find it strange to have a somewhat softer or friendlier language, especially on the subject of death.
I kinda just treated it like any old monster but under the players control and given it wasn't exactly a living organism I didn't give it death saves, so to me when it dropped to 0 HP, it "died". Has anyone run it any differently or was it meant to be run differently
Would you treat a Ranger's Companion the same way? A paladin's mount?
If not, I would personally make treat this in the same way. Now granted, animal harm is a red card in my group so animal companions haven't come up for me personally. I would just treat this in the same way. As others have said, you choose whether it dies immediately or not. It's not a hard and fast rule that it need to die at 0 HP.
Would you treat a Ranger's Companion the same way? A paladin's mount?
Yes. Things that are meant to be a durable component of your character have specific mechanics that make them durable, generally the ability to resummon them.
Would you treat a Ranger's Companion the same way? A paladin's mount?
@SmiteMakesRight_3_5 yes... I play ranger and I can just resummon my animal companion. Paladins mounts can also be resummoned by a quick spell - they are regenerative (but disposable) resources.
Would you treat a Ranger's Companion the same way? A paladin's mount?
@SmiteMakesRight_3_5 yes... I play ranger and I can just resummon my animal companion. Paladins mounts can also be resummoned by a quick spell - they are regenerative (but disposable) resources.
That's not what I meant. I meant, when they go down, are they dead? Replacing them is handled by the rules already.
What is your standard for companions, mounts, familiars, and the like, when they hit 0 HP?
I would suck to turn a Very Rare permanent item into a consumable one, in a sense, but if it was the same treatment as other companions, at least it shouldn't be unexpected, even if there is no RAW way to restore the Guardian, as opposed to the others.
Out of curiosity, at what level was the game where the construct's regeneration was overwhelmed by the damage? (or were you focusing attacks on it and it wasn't getting healed?)
Hi, I have a question related to a scenario:
I am a DM for an Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden game and my players found the Shield Guardian Amulet and the shield guardian to match.
We then had a little combat encounter to do with the secrets and it resulted in the players shield guardian being dropped to 0hp.
In this instance, what happens to the shield guardian? Is it now dead and destroyed? Is the magic gone?
I kinda just treated it like any old monster but under the players control and given it wasn't exactly a living organism I didn't give it death saves, so to me when it dropped to 0 HP, it "died". Has anyone run it any differently or was it meant to be run differently
All my details are found on my website
And heres some DM info and reviews
Cuz feedback is important
The shield guardian keep going for some time. While this particular shield guardian amulet is a rare magic item that requires attunement to activate and control the shield guardian, it otherwise functions as described in the shield guardian's entry in Monster Manual, meaning it may act normally. As a matter of fact it already did once before.
This shield guardian survived the fall of Ythryn, although its master did not. After the wizard's tower crashed, the guardian left the spire to go find help but got buried in an avalanche. It eventually shut down.
It's dead unless you rule otherwise, which will render the amulet not very useful. Relevant rules:
2014
2024
Note, however, that revivify can be cast on a construct.
Im struggling to see what point you're tryna make here apologies.
All my details are found on my website
And heres some DM info and reviews
Cuz feedback is important
Sorry for the confusion i thought i read the player dropped to 0 hp but if it's the shield guardian then yes it's dead unless ruled otherwise.
You as a DM are free to do as you like. As @Pantagruel666 posted the common advice from the rules is to have monsters die at 0hp but to make exceptions for story reasons for any NPC/monster you like. IMO this would certainly qualify for that (unless you think it might unbalance the adventure, IIRC it doesn't).
Also one thing to note, Icewind Dale is based on the 2014 rules and those are much harsher on being able to heal constructs, the 2024 rules allow most (if not all) spells that heals to also work on constructs so it wouldn't be unreasonable to allow for 2014 spells to do so in a pinch if it helps your story along.
Interesting... but wrong, right? This is from Borderlands Quest: Goblin Trouble:
I thought for a moment that blue line might be about Knocking Out a Creature, but the actual rule is different (only melee attacks, and the bit about 1 HP):
EDIT: if I'm adding this reply here, it's just because the monster death rule was quoted and commented, and I don't think this deserves its own thread xD
Don't see what the issue is tbh, technically that is the same as always, 0 = dead unless you have reasons for it not to.
Also wasn't that Borderlands stuff aimed at kids? Could well be the reason for the kinder language.
With that wording in blue, it seems that you could apply the Knocking Out rule for ranged attacks.
I really don't get what the issue is tbh, it's the same rule as always. At 0hp a PC is unconscious and a monster is dead (but the DM can decide to use the PC rules, i.e being unconscious, for any monster/NPC that he feels deserve it).
This rule differ from PHB where a creature reduce to 0 HP by a trap or hazard can have player decide it's unconscious, such as companion, animal etc...meanhile in the PHB it's when you (the attacker) would reduce a creature to 0 Hit Points with a melee attack, you can instead reduce the creature to 1 Hit Point and give it the Unconscious condition.
They probably meant the player as in the one controlling the creature defeated.
It's not a big deal anyway, I posted that more out of curiosity. Sorry for the noise.
Nah this is a very minor variation of the normal rule for going to 0hp. The text in this adventure also doesn't have characters make death saves or anything, they just stay unconscious.
But as this is a short adventure specifically aimed at children I don't find it strange to have a somewhat softer or friendlier language, especially on the subject of death.
Yes the player controlled the Creature
All my details are found on my website
And heres some DM info and reviews
Cuz feedback is important
Would you treat a Ranger's Companion the same way? A paladin's mount?
If not, I would personally make treat this in the same way. Now granted, animal harm is a red card in my group so animal companions haven't come up for me personally. I would just treat this in the same way. As others have said, you choose whether it dies immediately or not. It's not a hard and fast rule that it need to die at 0 HP.
How to add Tooltips.
My houserulings.
Yes. Things that are meant to be a durable component of your character have specific mechanics that make them durable, generally the ability to resummon them.
@SmiteMakesRight_3_5 yes... I play ranger and I can just resummon my animal companion.
Paladins mounts can also be resummoned by a quick spell - they are regenerative (but disposable) resources.
All my details are found on my website
And heres some DM info and reviews
Cuz feedback is important
That's not what I meant. I meant, when they go down, are they dead? Replacing them is handled by the rules already.
What is your standard for companions, mounts, familiars, and the like, when they hit 0 HP?
I would suck to turn a Very Rare permanent item into a consumable one, in a sense, but if it was the same treatment as other companions, at least it shouldn't be unexpected, even if there is no RAW way to restore the Guardian, as opposed to the others.
Out of curiosity, at what level was the game where the construct's regeneration was overwhelmed by the damage? (or were you focusing attacks on it and it wasn't getting healed?)
How to add Tooltips.
My houserulings.
Well, they're generally banished rather than dead, being summoned entities, but yes, they just get popped.