D&D (2024) How many of you would implement the drop to 0 HP, get 1 level of exhaustion house rule?

[FitzTheRuke]

I find it odd that some people seem to think that martial get dropped to zero more often than casters do, or that -1 to all d20 rolls wouldn't also apply to your save DCs.

 

[cbwjm]

I find it odd that some people seem to think that martial get dropped to zero more often than casters do, or that -1 to all d20 rolls wouldn't also apply to your save DCs.

Depends on what the actual rule says. If its just d20 rolls then save DCs are unaffected since there is no roll. If it calls out DCs then, yeah, DCs are affected. As is, I still think the -1 will affect casters at some level from my own experience. I tend to use a lot of attack cantrips which do call for an attack roll.

 

[Vaalingrade]

I find it odd that some people seem to think that martial get dropped to zero more often than casters do, or that -1 to all d20 rolls wouldn't also apply to your save DCs.

Because they do and because it doesn't?

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Because they do

Not in my experience. And I play fighters and rogues more than any other class. When I'm not DMing. Which I do at a rate of ~3 games a week. Front liners spend less time at full HP, maybe.

What makes you think that they drop more often?

and because it doesn't?

That's silly. It's the same thing as an attack roll with the math backwards.

 

[DrJawaPhD]

What makes you think that they drop more often?

It makes sense because being in melee is generally more dangerous than being at range (unless the DM goes out of their way to make this not be true, which can easily be done), and because optimized casters are capable of much higher AC than martials are.

Actual results would be highly dependent on the particular tactics used at any given table though.

 

[Vaalingrade]

What makes you think that they drop more often?

Because they eat more regular attacks, actually take AoOs, and don't have ways of cheating their way out of it. Also, they don't have a fighter taking attacks for them.

That's silly. It's the same thing as an attack roll with the math backwards.

That's... the actual rule in the book? That the thing where you never roll a die isn't a die roll?

 

[Yaarel]

you should also get -1 to AC and DCs.
that affects casters also, and casters have attack spells.

If the monster gains a +1 when attacking an exhausted character, there is no need modify the ACs and DCs.

But you are right to specify the saving throws that monsters make.


Something like:

Exhaustion inflicts −1 to all d20s by the Exhausted, and grants +1 to all d20s by others when in opposition to the Exhausted whether ability checks, attacks, or saves.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Because they eat more regular attacks, actually take AoOs, and don't have ways of cheating their way out of it. Also, they don't have a fighter taking attacks for them.

Sure. They are also designed to take it. There's a reason the "squishies" are called that.

That's... the actual rule in the book? That the thing where you never roll a die isn't a die roll?

No kidding. My point was: If it bothers you, include it. It is the same resolution mechanic in reverse.

Also: Does anyone know that the 2024 exhaustion mechanic does not include save DCs?

 

[FitzTheRuke]

IActual results would be highly dependent on the particular tactics used at any given table though.

Kind of my point - It was spoken of as if it was a Universal Truth. I don't think that it is common, far or less Universal.

Which is not to say that front liners never take a beating - of course they do! But they, IME, can usually take it. Mid and back-liners cannot (that is why they are not in the front line).

 

[Horwath]

If the monster gains a +1 when attacking an exhausted character, there is no need modify the ACs and DCs.

But you are right to specify the saving throws that monsters make.


Something like:

Exhaustion inflicts −1 to all d20s by the Exhausted, and grants +1 to all d20s by others when in opposition to the Exhausted whether ability checks, attacks, or saves.

why both?

It's easier to modify only the exhausted character.

especially on VTT version where in theory you could just check the box on how many levels you have and all is modified by "-X"