so I was wondering if I could burn a reaction when I get hit to play dead? A example of this would be a creature hits me, then as a reaction I play it up and pretend the would was a killing blow, falling over and exhaling then holding my breath trying to appear dead (probably a deception/performance check) would this be allowed/ would this work with the rules?
I'd allow it as a DM, for the reason that I wouldn't require falling over to be an action. If you jumped on the ground, that's one thing. But letting yourself fall when you get hit would be different. And after that, 'playing dead' isn't 'Taking an action', it's actually the opposite of taking an action :)
The alternative would be for the bad guy to hit you, then a bunch of other things happen around the battle, and then on your next turn you fall over. Seems pointlessly rulebound to go that route.
If you wanted to play it up by stumbling around, cursing your foe, that's another story. But if you just wanted to drop like a paid off prize fighter, I don't see why that shouldn't be allowed as a reaction. Not saying whether it's RAW, but...it should be if it's not.
Yeah, I'd allow it as well. Because the player is making a sacrifice and taking a chance. The character now prone and the enemy's next melee attack will very likely be at advantage if the ruse doesn't work.
I don't like that, but that's just my opinion. I would also give the character advantage on their deception check if they did it immediately after a critical hit, since that would be even more convincing.
Would probably go with CHA(deception) since badly wounded and unconscious is also a reasonable way of playing dead. Though if you were trying to convince them that you were actually dead, CON would probably be the way to go.
Be warned though, some enemies might continue to attack someone who is down or even dead even if the bluff succeeds, depending on the rest of the battlefield and their motivations.
I wouldn't worry about the breathing that much if this is in battle.
If you're wearing armor and a cloak, and there's a battle raging around us and you fall to the ground when I hit you, I don't know that I'm going to stop and check to see if you're breathing. And I don't think I could tell just by looking at you on the ground, crumpled in a heap.
That said, I would probably do a contested deception role, and modify it based on how much damage you took with the hit. If I just grazed you or didn't even hit you (a few HPs in damage), you're going to have to play it up to make me believe it. But if I hit you for 20+hp, it should be easier for you to pretend that it killed you.
so I was wondering if I could burn a reaction when I get hit to play dead? A example of this would be a creature hits me, then as a reaction I play it up and pretend the would was a killing blow, falling over and exhaling then holding my breath trying to appear dead (probably a deception/performance check) would this be allowed/ would this work with the rules?
I'd allow it as a DM, for the reason that I wouldn't require falling over to be an action. If you jumped on the ground, that's one thing. But letting yourself fall when you get hit would be different. And after that, 'playing dead' isn't 'Taking an action', it's actually the opposite of taking an action :)
The alternative would be for the bad guy to hit you, then a bunch of other things happen around the battle, and then on your next turn you fall over. Seems pointlessly rulebound to go that route.
If you wanted to play it up by stumbling around, cursing your foe, that's another story. But if you just wanted to drop like a paid off prize fighter, I don't see why that shouldn't be allowed as a reaction. Not saying whether it's RAW, but...it should be if it's not.
Looking for new subclasses, spells, magic items, feats, and races? Opinions welcome :)
Yeah, I'd allow it as well. Because the player is making a sacrifice and taking a chance. The character now prone and the enemy's next melee attack will very likely be at advantage if the ruse doesn't work.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
Deception when you're trying to deceive people, performance when you're trying to entertain them.
Would you roll deception against the target's passive insight?
"Not all those who wander are lost"
Perhaps but I'd make it Constitution(Deception) you are holding your breath for a few rounds afterwords.
I don't like that, but that's just my opinion. I would also give the character advantage on their deception check if they did it immediately after a critical hit, since that would be even more convincing.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
Would probably go with CHA(deception) since badly wounded and unconscious is also a reasonable way of playing dead. Though if you were trying to convince them that you were actually dead, CON would probably be the way to go.
Be warned though, some enemies might continue to attack someone who is down or even dead even if the bluff succeeds, depending on the rest of the battlefield and their motivations.
Or snatch up the "dead" adventurer and run off to their lair to eat them :)
"Not all those who wander are lost"
I wouldn't worry about the breathing that much if this is in battle.
If you're wearing armor and a cloak, and there's a battle raging around us and you fall to the ground when I hit you, I don't know that I'm going to stop and check to see if you're breathing. And I don't think I could tell just by looking at you on the ground, crumpled in a heap.
That said, I would probably do a contested deception role, and modify it based on how much damage you took with the hit. If I just grazed you or didn't even hit you (a few HPs in damage), you're going to have to play it up to make me believe it. But if I hit you for 20+hp, it should be easier for you to pretend that it killed you.
Looking for new subclasses, spells, magic items, feats, and races? Opinions welcome :)