Can a warlord "heal" an unconscious character

[vic20]

Can a warlord use "Inspiring Word" to bring a character back from sub-zero hit points?

Thanks for your thoughts...

 

[illwizard]

I asked the same sort of question and got the responses in the thread below. From the fluff, it makes out like the recipient should be able to hear the warlord, ie be conscious, but I figured that made the warlord a pretty poor healer, and the warlord in my group generally doesn't speak at all anyway.


http://www.enworld.org/forum/d-d-4th-edition-rules/242632-great-game-few-questions.html

 

[vic20]

Thanks. I agree with the poster in that thread. It works in the RAW (heal unconscious characters), but seems odd. One character falls to a spear, and lays bleeding at -5 hit points. The warlord can on his turn use Inspiring Word to bring this character (with at least one remaining healing surge and within 5 squares) to 0 + surge value + 1d6 Hit Points as a minor action!

It must be that the character is only unconscious mechanically, but narratively I can think of it as the character obviously was just conscious enough to be bolstered by the shout-out (By Thor's Hammer!!! GET UP BOY!) to snap back from the brink.

The alternative mechanics would require the party to have to take an extended rest each time a party member goes into negative hit points. This is a very compelling reason for their to always be a leader/healer about, and I prefer to keep the game moving really.

 

[Obryn]

Like most other powers in 4e, if you look at it in terms of the game narrative, it makes perfect sense.

"Unconsciousness" is a mechanical term that could entail any number of narrative descriptions.

"With a mighty swing of his tree-like club, the ogre knocked Nyreth the Nimble to the ground. He lay there bleeding, barely clinging to consciousness. All of a sudden, the voice of his comrade Rindale rang in his head, 'Nyreth! Throw off your wounds! We need your help!' With a renewed resolve, Nyreth managed to find the inner strength to hold onto consciousness just a few minutes longer."

So, yeah. The status "Unconscious" just entails a list of game effects. It doesn't necessarily mean the character is ... well, unconscious in real-world terms.

-O

 

[Tale]

Like most other powers in 4e, if you look at it in terms of the game narrative, it makes perfect sense.

"Unconsciousness" is a mechanical term that could entail any number of narrative descriptions.

"With a mighty swing of his tree-like club, the ogre knocked Nyreth the Nimble to the ground. He lay there bleeding, barely clinging to consciousness. All of a sudden, the voice of his comrade Rindale rang in his head, 'Nyreth! Throw off your wounds! We need your help!' With a renewed resolve, Nyreth managed to find the inner strength to hold onto consciousness just a few minutes longer."

So, yeah. The status "Unconscious" just entails a list of game effects. It doesn't necessarily mean the character is ... well, unconscious in real-world terms.

-O

There's also a long list of evidence of people who are actually unconscious still being able to hear. In both fiction and the real world.

 

[Nifft]

There's also a long list of evidence of people who are actually unconscious still being able to hear.

It's the basis of how my alarm clock functions, for example.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Danceofmasks]

Stop being a little baby and get up. Life is pain. Get used to it!

 

[Wormwood]

Stop being a little baby and get up. Life is pain. Get used to it!

You ! You never backed away from anything in your life! Now fight! FIGHT!

 

[Cryptos]

You could also take this as the demeanor of the Warlord and the respect he engenders having an influence on the character:

As your consciousness fades and you feel your life ebbing away, you think of <the Warlord>, that noble warrior and tactical genius that has seen you through so many conflicts in the past. You think about how you might be letting him down if you were to die right here in this moment, still so far from your party's goals. Hanging from a final thread of conscious thought you realize that you cannot allow yourself to fall here, no matter how much you might hurt, because you cannot bring yourself to disappoint <the warlord>.

More of an inspiring presence, really, but other than flavor text there's nothing to say that the healing word has to actually be words.

 

[vic20]

Thanks all. I appreciate the replies. This is all very helpful!