Dropping to zero HP flowchart, is it helpful?

[fivepopes]

The mechanics in D&D 5e for handling unconscious creatures are a bit elaborate. So, in order to keep track of conditions and how to transition between them i created a dropping to zero HP flowchart. It looks like this:



Is it helpful? Any way it could become more helpful? Thanks in advance!

 

[Paraxis]

Maybe for some, I find the system to be pretty simple and honestly using that flow chart makes it look a lot more complex than it is in play. Don't get me wrong some people are more charts and graphs kind of people and I think those people will love this.

 

[WizarDru]

The mechanics in D&D 5e for handling unconscious creatures are a bit elaborate. So, in order to keep track of conditions and how to transition between them i created a dropping to zero HP flowchart. It looks like this:

View attachment 63849

Is it helpful? Any way it could become more helpful? Thanks in advance!

Just a note, I think you meant 'WERE you knocked out?' there, not 'WHERE'. Thanks for creating this.

 

[fivepopes]

Just a note, I think you meant 'WERE you knocked out?' there, not 'WHERE'. Thanks for creating this.

Right, thanks for the input! Will correct this ASAP.

 

[Sir Brennen]

For clarity, I'd maybe put "Make Death Save each round" in the "Unconscious" block.

For overly-pedantic completeness of the flowchart, you should have

Unconscious > Make Death Save > Over 10? (Yes/No)

Yes > True 20? (Yes/No)

Yes > Conscious
No > +1 successful Death Saves > Total of 3 successful Death Saves? (Yes/No)

Yes > Conscious
No > Unconscious​

No > True 1? (Yes/No)

Yes > +2 failed Death Saves
No > +1 failed Death Saves​

(Yes/No results) > Total of 3 or more failed Death Saves? (Yes/No)

Yes > Dead!
No > Unconscious​

 

[GMMichael]

That diagram is so informative...

...on where the bounds of bounded accuracy lie.
...on how sensitive some D&D players (playtesters?) can be regarding character death.
...for illustrating where we need to apply 5e's modularity.

Here's an easy house rule for anyone who wants a three-stage flowchart:

1. Is the character at or below zero hit points? If no, keep fighting!
2. If yes, he's mostly dead, and your GM will tell you what you can do, and how you can be saved.
3. If all party members are mostly dead, the GM will tell you how the plot moves forward, or the game is over.

Short and sweet, right?

 

[fivepopes]

For clarity, I'd maybe put "Make Death Save each round" in the "Unconscious" block.

I agree. Will add this, thanks!

For overly-pedantic completeness of the flowchart, you should have

Unconscious > Make Death Save > Over 10? (Yes/No)

Yes > True 20? (Yes/No)

Yes > Conscious
No > +1 successful Death Saves > Total of 3 successful Death Saves? (Yes/No)

Yes > Conscious
No > Unconscious​

No > True 1? (Yes/No)

Yes > +2 failed Death Saves
No > +1 failed Death Saves​

(Yes/No results) > Total of 3 or more failed Death Saves? (Yes/No)

Yes > Dead!
No > Unconscious​

It's comforting to know that there are more pedantics out there than just me. I actually started to lay out the flowchart as you describe, with all the binary choices involved. It turned out it was beyond me to make it both informative at a glance and correct, so I went with this (less correct) solution

 

[fivepopes]

Update

Thanks for the input! I've updated the flowchart. OP should now be correctly linked up, but the quotes I have no influence over.

 

[caudor]

This is very handy! Thank you

 

[James Wilder]

it would have been even better if you had used the correct flowchart symbols. Now this is like a normal flow diagram not a flowchart. The decision blocks should be represented by diamond shapes while processes are represented by rectangles. If you are not sure checkout these flowchart symbols here