"He's beyond my healing ability..."

[Morrus]

Ive come across this situation several times across multiple editions and variants of D&D: The PCs come across a dying NPC give their final words, an important element for telling the story being the NPC's death, and the party healer says "I cast heal on the guy. Now let's get all the details from him."

If the DM says the NPC is too close to death to heal, the healer PC feels crimped because nowhere in the rules does it say "you can't heal NPCs" or "a creature at death's door cannot be healed."

If the DM lets the healer revive the NPC, the DM will need to quickly adapt and either reveal more than intended so soon or come up with a way to convincingly string the PCs on further with this NPC's information. Thing is, once you do this that basically precludes any future scenario where the PCs can be present at the time of an NPC's death (well, maybe expect old age) - they'll just let the healer do their thing.

How do you handle this kind of situation in your games?

He's already "dead" in D&D terms. The DM just gave him a "last speech" ability.

Honestly, if you're gonna get all technical about NPC monologues (whether in mid-combat or at the point of death) you're not gonna achieve much in the fantasy milieu, and especially not in the D&D ruleset. It's not designed for simulation of reality, but for heroic dramatics. One has to adopt a certain supsension of disbelief at the door, otherwise we'll be criticising the physics behind Superman's flight.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

He's already "dead" in D&D terms. The DM just gave him a "last speech" ability.

Is that a feat or class ability?

 

[Morrus]

Is that a feat or class ability?

Neither. It's a DM.

 

[prosfilaes]

How do you handle this kind of situation in your games?

I wouldn't play with that cliche, anymore then I'd try and put in an impassible crevice to block characters with flight.

 

[Quickleaf]

[MENTION=5868]Olgar Shiverstone[/MENTION] and [MENTION=27051]Mark Hope[/MENTION]
Poor DMing and ham-fisted? That seems a little extreme, but sure it could come across that way if used inelegantly; part of being DM is having a lyrical and propitious sense of timing. Or the right tool for the right job.

Take the death of King Robert in A Game of Thrones. He summons Ned, the King's Hand, to issue his dying will in private. "Write this down Ned: I King Robert of House Baratheon, blah blah blah, fill in the rest, declare Joffrey-"

"Wait Robert, the party cleric has got this covered." Cure Moderate Wounds.

There is a gravitas and deep impact this situation has on the plot, making the tearing up of this will be Cersei all the more terrible for the reader/viewer. I know that D&D is a different beast than AGoT, but I strive for a game that feels like it could come from the pages of a fantasy novel (albeit one off the rails).

Having every dying NPC moment be solvable with a Heal check or healing spell seems to make scenes like this one impossible.

Obviously there's DM fiat, which I am fine using though I try not to hit my players over the head with it. Body shots are fair game though.

 

[Quickleaf]

[MENTION=1]Morrus[/MENTION]
You just totally shattered my illusions about Superman.

I guess this comes down to different expectations of the game? I had a player, who we otherwise have a blast gaming together, feel like I was railroading them/gimping his bard because I introduced a situation with an NPC on their deathbed who was "beyond healing...even an inspired étude with lyre accompaniment." To me this was simply a dramatic scene to propel the PCs into responsibility over a keep, illustrate one NPC's sacrifice, and create a sense of real threat from an invading force. This wasn't something I did chronically, it was a one time thing in the campaign; and the bard had many occasions before then to use his healing powers (this is 4e btw).

So is this just a narrative/gamist vs simulation issue?

 

[Morrus]

So is this just a narrative/gamist vs simulation issue?

Basically, yeah. It's a stylistic choice. Works for some, not for others. I, personally, am fine with it.

 

[Crazy Jerome]

So is this just a narrative/gamist vs simulation issue?

I've always had more issues with it personally, and more cat calls from the players, because the dying moment happens when the PCs arrive. Not being able to heal is related to reality, even if not necessarily a perfect fit for a D&D system. But happening to die right as the heroes arrive to hear the speech? Easily dodgy, unless you play it just right.

 

[prosfilaes]

Not being able to heal is related to reality, even if not necessarily a perfect fit for a D&D system.

I don't know many paramedics who are willing to give up on someone who was conscious and speaking coherently a few seconds ago, either.

 

[Relique du Madde]

Here's an easy fix.

Cleric: save your strength Lord! I'll save thee!
Cleric player: I cast cure light wounds on Lord Should-Have-Died.
Dm: You heal Lord Should-Have-died, and he stabilizes. However, he seems really tickled.
Cleric: What's wrong?
Lord Should-Have-Died: You bastard! I was in Vahalla! Thor called in the Valkaries and ordered a wet t-shirt contest and I was the judge! You robbed me of eternal peace and happiness you fiend! For that I'll kill you!
Dm: Lord-Should-Have-Died pulls out his sword and swings at the cleric... and misses.
Rogue Player: I back stab. Hmm... looks like its a crit hit for max damage!
DM: Lord SHD falls to the ground dead,with a smile on his face.
Rouge Player: How much xp did I get?