Honestly, I don't think that matters. The rules just characterize it as an attack, not a melee attack.
"When an attacker reduces a creature to 0 hit points with a melee attack, the attacker can knock the creature out."
Honestly, I don't think that matters. The rules just characterize it as an attack, not a melee attack.
I doubt debating this further will yield much fruit.Maybe, maybe not:
I doubt debating this further will yield much fruit.
I’ve had it happen three times now in my current campaign. Once the character was at 1st level, and both of the others were at 4th, though one had their max HP significantly reduced first by a succubus’ kiss attack, and the other failed their save against a young black dragon’s breath weapon, and I rolled very high on the damage.I can't remember a character ever dying in 5e from massive damage rule. Not even at 1st. I guess we usually level them up REAL fast to 2nd, but even then I don't recall it.
Anyway, things I regret...Well, letting someone into my game when my instinct told me that person should not be at my table, that's a big one.
I’ve had it happen three times now in my current campaign. Once the character was at 1st level, and both of the others were at 4th, though one had their max HP significantly reduced first by a succubus’ kiss attack, and the other failed their save against a young black dragon’s breath weapon, and I rolled very high on the damage.
Seriously, from a 5e table of 7 new-to-gaming players, retaining 3 /and one of them taking up DMing/ is a huge win. Each new DM is a victory, as it means another 4-7 new players accommodated at the venue.Just commenting broadly on various replies, I appreciate the analyses. Unfortunately, ya, there's not much more information I can provide. I talked a couple more times with the guys who kept playing, but the girl never came up. The guy who stepped up to DM for his friends said I had inspired him, so that softened the sting of my regret quite a lot.
Y'all have plot armor: they're called hit points.I had actually forgotten the incident until a new player joined my table recently. She's an adult, but has expressed in no uncertain terms she's not cool with her PC dying. She doesn't care whether the other PCs have plot armor, but she doesn't want to invest time and energy into a thing just to have it vanish.