Here is an optional rule for handling character death.
When a character's hit points are reduced below zero he begins to die.
Each round that the characters hit points are below zero he is required to make a Fortitude save to stay alive. The DC for the Fortitude save is the number of hit points below zero that the character currently is. A failed Fortitude save results in death.
Even if the Fortitude save is successful the character continues to lose 1 hit point per round until healed or stabilized.
If the player rolls a natural 1 when making the Fortitude save, the character takes the standard 1 point of damage per round from dying plus an additional 10 points of damage.
However, if the player rolls a natural 20 when making the Fortitude save, the character stabilizes. There is no additional roll to stabilize.
There is no limit to the number of negative hit points that the character can have as long as he continues to make his Fortitude save.
This rule makes it harder to kill characters with high Fortitude saves, which in my opinion, is how the game should be.
This rule also adds a level of uncertainty to the process of dying. It is never safe to assume that you've got a certain number of rounds to get to a character because you never know when a player may roll a natural 1 and go from just barely dying to drawing their last breath.
Good, bad, indifferent?
(edited for clarification)
When a character's hit points are reduced below zero he begins to die.
Each round that the characters hit points are below zero he is required to make a Fortitude save to stay alive. The DC for the Fortitude save is the number of hit points below zero that the character currently is. A failed Fortitude save results in death.
Even if the Fortitude save is successful the character continues to lose 1 hit point per round until healed or stabilized.
If the player rolls a natural 1 when making the Fortitude save, the character takes the standard 1 point of damage per round from dying plus an additional 10 points of damage.
However, if the player rolls a natural 20 when making the Fortitude save, the character stabilizes. There is no additional roll to stabilize.
There is no limit to the number of negative hit points that the character can have as long as he continues to make his Fortitude save.
This rule makes it harder to kill characters with high Fortitude saves, which in my opinion, is how the game should be.
This rule also adds a level of uncertainty to the process of dying. It is never safe to assume that you've got a certain number of rounds to get to a character because you never know when a player may roll a natural 1 and go from just barely dying to drawing their last breath.
Good, bad, indifferent?
(edited for clarification)
Last edited:
