D&D 5E Why is there a limit to falling damage?

[Maxperson]

That would depend upon what hps represent to you. In my world, they represent a combination of your toughness (which is more than just your ability to withstand injury), and the touch of the Gods. A loss of hps is not an injury, it is something that taxes this supernatural capability to survive danger, through force of will, divine intervention, and other forces. Sound nebulous? That is intentional. However, it works for falling damage survival.

Well, sure. If the gods reach down and save you from dying, that would justify surviving a long fall like that. For me, though, such an act would need to be a bit more overt than just hit point loss.

 

[Flamestrike]

Hey, lets punish martials some more!

• Fumble rules
• Insta death from lava/ falling
• Insta death from being stabbed while sleeping

Its man in the gym everywhere!

People, we cant fall from such a height because we are Commoners with 5 HP.

Achillies, Hercules, CuCulain, Odysseus, James T Kirk and so forth can fall from mountains, from orbit, into volcanoes and survive, protected by plot armor, luck (which is what hit points expressly represent), and sheer awesomeoness.

We cant; they can. So can high level PCs, particularly the ones with an insane amount of luck (HP) that is afforded to martials as a class feature.

Wizards can featherfall (cast spells as a class feature). Fighters can survive because they're experienced, lucky, resolute and awesome (have more HP as a class feature).

 

[Maxperson]

Hey, lets punish martials some more!

• Fumble rules
• Insta death from lava/ falling
• Insta death from being stabbed while sleeping

Its man in the gym everywhere!

People, we cant fall from such a height because we are Commoners with 5 HP.

Achillies, Hercules, CuCulain, Odysseus, James T Kirk and so forth can fall from mountains, from orbit, into volcanoes and survive, protected by plot armor, luck (which is what hit points expressly represent), and sheer awesomeoness.

We cant; they can. So can high level PCs, particularly the ones with an insane amount of luck (HP) that is afforded to martials as a class feature.

Wizards can featherfall (cast spells as a class feature). Fighters can survive because they're experienced, lucky, resolute and awesome (have more HP as a class feature).

Nobody is punishing "martials." There are many other kinds of casters than Wizards and Bards, and they get to die as well. Hell, even Wizards and Bards die if they haven't wasted a spell spot on Feather Fall.

 

[Oofta]

There's a big difference between "a hero can survive a fall from an extreme height because they're a hero" and "the barbarian jumps off a 1500 ft cliff because he read the PHB and he knows he'll survive."

In the former case they hit tree branches on the way down then a steep incline and finally land in water or a bog. In the latter it's too much meta-gaming for me. If he insists there will be a Sarlac waiting for him* at the bottom.

*Kidding. Probably. More likely to be a pit with barbed spikes that fills with water because how awesome would that be? Bwa-ha-ha.

 

[Tormyr]

Maybe they fall into a giant funnel that dumps into a bag of holding, that then detaches and falls into a portable hole?

 

[FrogReaver]

There's a big difference between "a hero can survive a fall from an extreme height because they're a hero" and "the barbarian jumps off a 1500 ft cliff because he read the PHB and he knows he'll survive."

In the former case they hit tree branches on the way down then a steep incline and finally land in water or a bog. In the latter it's too much meta-gaming for me. If he insists there will be a Sarlac waiting for him* at the bottom.

*Kidding. Probably. More likely to be a pit with barbed spikes that fills with water because how awesome would that be? Bwa-ha-ha.

When such discussion come up I always wonder why no one has an issue with barbarians going toe to toe with huge high CR monsters without being killed in a single blow. The same kind of logic should cause pause there as well but it doesn't.

 

[FrogReaver]

There's a big difference between "a hero can survive a fall from an extreme height because they're a hero" and "the barbarian jumps off a 1500 ft cliff because he read the PHB and he knows he'll survive."

In the former case they hit tree branches on the way down then a steep incline and finally land in water or a bog. In the latter it's too much meta-gaming for me. If he insists there will be a Sarlac waiting for him* at the bottom.

*Kidding. Probably. More likely to be a pit with barbed spikes that fills with water because how awesome would that be? Bwa-ha-ha.

Just to clarify, if the Barbarian was climbing a 1500ft cliff fell to the bottom after he was nearly to the top you would be okay with him surviving?

 

[Flamestrike]

There's a big difference between "a hero can survive a fall from an extreme height because they're a hero" and "the barbarian jumps off a 1500 ft cliff because he read the PHB and he knows he'll survive."

In the former case they hit tree branches on the way down then a steep incline and finally land in water or a bog. In the latter it's too much meta-gaming for me. If he insists there will be a Sarlac waiting for him* at the bottom.

*Kidding. Probably. More likely to be a pit with barbed spikes that fills with water because how awesome would that be? Bwa-ha-ha.

This I actually agree with.

The Barbarian player was metagaming. As DM I would have given him a look that ensured he never tried to do so again.

 

[Fanaelialae]

When such discussion come up I always wonder why no one has an issue with barbarians going toe to toe with huge high CR monsters without being killed in a single blow. The same kind of logic should cause pause there as well but it doesn't.

Skill and luck. The reason the character isn't killed in a single blow is because the attack is more or less evaded. It would have killed the character (or at least left them dying) had it been a solid hit, but the loss of HP represents the character utilizing skill/luck to avoid those killing blows.

At least that's how I run it.

 

[FrogReaver]

Skill and luck. The reason the character isn't killed in a single blow is because the attack is more or less evaded. It would have killed the character (or at least left them dying) had it been a solid hit, but the loss of HP represents the character utilizing skill/luck to avoid those killing blows.

At least that's how I run it.

Then introduce some skill and luck toward turning the solid blow of the ground into a not so solid blow.