Playing the other day and we had a conversation about the rule regarding knocking opponents out as they drop to zero HP. The rules seem to say that when an attack reduces an opponent to zero you can choose to knock him unconscious. In melee this is I suppose an abstraction that makes some sense but does this extend to ranged attacks? Can a player knick a monster unconscious with a javelin or an arrow? That seems an abstraction too far perhaps. Or am I missing something?
As per the Player's Handbook, page 198 (or here), in the paragraph "Knocking a Creature Out", the wording is "When an attacker reduces a creature to 0 hit points with a melee attack, the attacker can knock the creature out." Emphasis mine.
So, ranged attacks are out. Note, however, that melee spell attacks (such as the one delivered by Shocking Grasp) still count.
In my table, I would allow any Bludgeoning damaging ranged weapon to knock target unconscious. It's only logical. Think about all these thrown bludgeoning weapons:
Boomerang, Light Hammer, Sling. I've literally seen all these used in knocking in movies I saw. It feels like a mistake in wotc part.
In my table, I would allow any Bludgeoning damaging ranged weapon to knock target unconscious. It's only logical. Think about all these thrown bludgeoning weapons:
Boomerang, Light Hammer, Sling. I've literally seen all these used in knocking in movies I saw. It feels like a mistake in wotc part.
Part of it is simplicity; establishing that a single type of attack roll can knock a target out is easier to remember mid-play than setting more nuanced conditions. Plus on the logical side of things, it’s a lot easier to aim a blunt part of something at a specific point on an active target from ~5ft away rather than typically 20+ ft.
RAW requires a melee attack. The important thing about this rule to me is the purpose behind the act so whenever it better serve the story to knock out a creature rather than reduce it to 0 hit point, it often may be preferrable for DM to allow it regardless of weapon damage or attack type. Denying such attempt otherwise simply result in kill rather than spare life, possible interrogation etc...
Personally I think it’s fair to limit the “take them alive” options a little. It’s hardly a major obstacle, but it forces the party to work at it a little more when they presumably want to get something back from it.
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Playing the other day and we had a conversation about the rule regarding knocking opponents out as they drop to zero HP. The rules seem to say that when an attack reduces an opponent to zero you can choose to knock him unconscious. In melee this is I suppose an abstraction that makes some sense but does this extend to ranged attacks? Can a player knick a monster unconscious with a javelin or an arrow? That seems an abstraction too far perhaps. Or am I missing something?
As per the Player's Handbook, page 198 (or here), in the paragraph "Knocking a Creature Out", the wording is "When an attacker reduces a creature to 0 hit points with a melee attack, the attacker can knock the creature out." Emphasis mine.
So, ranged attacks are out. Note, however, that melee spell attacks (such as the one delivered by Shocking Grasp) still count.
As onyx said, it has to be a melee attack.
Ah, my bad. Thanks for that.
In my table, I would allow any Bludgeoning damaging ranged weapon to knock target unconscious. It's only logical. Think about all these thrown bludgeoning weapons:
Boomerang, Light Hammer, Sling. I've literally seen all these used in knocking in movies I saw. It feels like a mistake in wotc part.
Any bludgeoning weapon becomes a piercing weapon if you swing it hard enough.
Part of it is simplicity; establishing that a single type of attack roll can knock a target out is easier to remember mid-play than setting more nuanced conditions. Plus on the logical side of things, it’s a lot easier to aim a blunt part of something at a specific point on an active target from ~5ft away rather than typically 20+ ft.
RAW requires a melee attack. The important thing about this rule to me is the purpose behind the act so whenever it better serve the story to knock out a creature rather than reduce it to 0 hit point, it often may be preferrable for DM to allow it regardless of weapon damage or attack type. Denying such attempt otherwise simply result in kill rather than spare life, possible interrogation etc...
Personally I think it’s fair to limit the “take them alive” options a little. It’s hardly a major obstacle, but it forces the party to work at it a little more when they presumably want to get something back from it.