Massive Damage

[Gribble]

Anyone using rules similar to this? In other words if a foe does half or more of the characters total HP in damage with a sigle attack, the character must save or die.

[Grazzt]

Might work at low levels, but when ya get into the higher levels, it would be pretty difficult to deal a character 1/2 or more of his hp in damage.

Could do like D&D 3x...set the threshold at 50 hp or more damage in one shot. Or like Conan d20, threshold 20 hp.

[serleran]

Quote:
Could do like D&D 3x...set the threshold at 50 hp or more damage in one shot.

Sorry, this was a 2e rule, first.

[Grazzt]

serleran wrote:
Sorry, this was a 2e rule, first.

Yeah- i remember that. Sry

[Metathiax]

Quote:
Anyone using rules similar to this? In other words if a foe does half or more of the characters total HP in damage with a sigle attack, the character must save or die.

That would be harsh!

Example : A kobold bites the party's 1st lvl wizard for 2 HPs out of 4...the wizard fails the save and dies...

I think the game is deadly enough as it is, especially at low lvls...

Quote:
Could do like D&D 3x...set the threshold at 50 hp or more damage in one shot. Or like Conan d20, threshold 20 hp.

I really don't see why that would be needed since HPs are an abstract value to start with, making such a threshold pretty arbitrary. 50 HPs of damage might be a serious wound for a high lvl barbarian but that same amount could be deadly for a high lvl wizard. They are plenty of other "save or die" options out there for the sadistic CK in us...
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[serleran]

Hehe, I only mentioned it because in games like C&C (ie, AD&D) where HP are not escalated, a high number like 50 really means "only fighter-types and extreme level characters" are subjected to this rule. Non-fighters who take 50 damage are probably dead already (less than 50 HP) or are around 20th level, and at that point death is often an inconvenience as resurrection is likely (or, assumed to be) easily accessible so the threat of Con loss is nullified as well. So, if you want a rule that is "fair" it should be based on something equally applicable, and possible at all levels. Half damage to HP in one hit would seem right, but at low levels that is basically every attack (a longsword deals 4-5 damage on average, before modifiers, making only those who roll high on a d12 exempt; two-handed swords or axes would be the weapons of choice as they deal ~7 damage on average, so only d12 HD types with a high Con could ignore the half damage rule...) and it essentially whittles into monster-attacks only, unless stated "in a single round" in which case, the rule might be invoked constantly.

Using maximum damage rolled doesn't work either, as d4s are consistently going to do so more often, as they have an easier time (ie, lower number of not-maximums) at it, and multiple dice get screwed on the randomness because their probability of max is much lower, eventhough they're supposed to be more damaging (hence the multiple dice in the first place.)

Involving Con could work, say... damage = Con till 6th level, then Con x 2 until 12th, and then Con x 3 at 18th+.

So, a wizard with a 10 Con wouldn't suffer massive damage (assuming he lived through it anyway) unless he was struck for 10 damage, in which case a Con save vs. the attack modifier (BtH + magical bonuses) is needed to remain standing. At 7th level, the wizard can take up to 20 before the save is needed, and at 18th he could take 30. Assuming average rolls, the wizard would have 10 HP at 5th level, but if he gets lucky, he might have it at 3rd, so there is plenty of time for the rule to be in effect. To get to 20 HP, the wizard needs to be around 10th, and at 30 HP, well... much higher, at around 20 or so.

[Metathiax]

Quote:
Involving Con could work, say... damage = Con till 6th level, then Con x 2 until 12th, and then Con x 3 at 18th+.

Interesting solution although death is never an inconvenience in my campaign since I rule that True Resurrection still results in the lost of a CON point, making its "only" benefits over Resurrection to be not needing a portion of the body and ignoring any time limits...
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[Treebore]

I kill PC's often enough without such a rule, I don't want any more help, I'm deadly enough as it is.

[moriarty777]

YA! I remember this! The Ol' SSS

SYSTEM SHOCK SURVIVAL!

M
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[Maliki]

Metathiax wrote:
That would be harsh!

Example : A kobold bites the party's 1st lvl wizard for 2 HPs out of 4...the wizard fails the save and dies...

I think the game is deadly enough as it is, especially at low lvls...

I agree, this would be far too deadly for classes with small HD.
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[Grazzt]

moriarty777 wrote:
YA! I remember this! The Ol' SSS

SYSTEM SHOCK SURVIVAL!

M

I still use this. Also use it in my 3.x game (just a Fort save there)
Scott

Necromancer Games

[Gribble]

Hehe, seems like the general concensious is no. Thanx for your input guys.

[qstor]

I dont see a problem with using the 3.x rule of 50 hp.

Mike
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"I am a Ranger. We walk in the dark places no others will enter. We stand on the bridge, and no one may pass. We live for the One we die for the One"

Marcus B5

[Nelzie]

qstor wrote:
I dont see a problem with using the 3.x rule of 50 hp.

Mike

You mean the AD&D 2nd Edition rule of 50hp that was copied into D&D3.x.
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[phadeout]

If you want a rule based more on the Toughness of the Character, you could always use a Multiple of CON (say CON x4 damage in one hit, save vs death (CHA) or die).

Or you could make it more complex by saying something like:

CON Score + Level (where Level is a multiple depending on Hit Dice)

HD Multiple =

d4 x1

d6 x2

d8 x3

d10 x4

d12 x5

So a CON 18 Ftr8 would save or die if a single attack did:

18 + (8x4) = 50 HP

[btw, I picked Con 18 and Ftr8 totally off the top of my head, funny it equaled exactly 50!)

Cheers.

[Omote]

I don't use massive damage rules as the game tends to be deadly enough (at least in my games )

...........................................Omote

FPQ
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[qstor]

Nelzie wrote:
You mean the AD&D 2nd Edition rule of 50hp that was copied into D&D3.x.

I never played a lot of 2e so I was unaware that the rule was included in 2e.

Mike
_________________
"I am a Ranger. We walk in the dark places no others will enter. We stand on the bridge, and no one may pass. We live for the One we die for the One"

Marcus B5

[phadeout]

qstor wrote:
I never played a lot of 2e so I was unaware that the rule was included in 2e.

Mike

It's in the 2E DMG, it's kinda optional anyway even in 2E.