pukunui
Legend
Sometimes a short rest is enough. Other times, more drastic measures are called for, such as with mummy rot.
Basically: there is no hard and fast rule. Each monster that can reduce a target's hp max can do so in its own way.
D&D 5E (2014) 5e necrotic damage has me a little confused.....
- Thread starter Otterscrubber
- Start date
Basically: there is no hard and fast rule. Each monster that can reduce a target's hp max can do so in its own way.
FormerlyHemlock
Hero
My house rule for healing life-drain damage is that instead of your max HP auto-resetting on a long rest, you have to rest and spend 100 XP per HP you are regaining. So 20 HP of vampire drain requires 2000 XP to regain. It's far less punitive than old-school life drain which drained whole levels at a time but you still have a reason to fear wraiths and vampires.
I was doing necrotic damage from those creatures that reduce maximum hit points just like you. It was pointed out that I was wrong. There is no order of operations. So both effects happen at the same time. You take the 20 points and the max hit points are reduced by 20. So you would have 30 hit points left and 30 maximum hit points. The other way is more lethal and scary, but by the rules both effects happening simultaneously is how it works.
the Jester
Legend
Note that, in some (corner) cases, you might actually take more damage than is indicated. Specifically, if you have temporary hit points.
For instance, let's say you have all 30 of your hit points and 5 temporary hit points. You take 15 points of damage from an effect that also reduces your maximum hp by 15. The damage takes you down to 20 hp, but your maximum drops to 15... so you actually take 20 points for all intents and purposes.
For instance, let's say you have all 30 of your hit points and 5 temporary hit points. You take 15 points of damage from an effect that also reduces your maximum hp by 15. The damage takes you down to 20 hp, but your maximum drops to 15... so you actually take 20 points for all intents and purposes.
the Jester
Legend
Treantmonklvl20
Explorer
I just came home from a game, and we were attacked by a Spectre. Guess what it could do?
Greenstone.Walker
Adventurer
And to clarify it further:
If the character has taken some damage and is now on 34 HP out of a max of 50 HP and they take 20 HP of necrotic damage (and fail the save, if appropriate), then they are now on 14 HP out of a max of 30 HP.
If the character has 14 HP out of a max of 30 HP and they take 20 HP of necrotic damage, then they are unconscious and have to start making death saves. When/if they stabilise they will be on 1 HP out of a max of 10 HP.
If the character has 14 HP out of a max of 19 HP and they take 20 HP of necrotic damage, then they are dead.
If the character has taken some damage and is now on 34 HP out of a max of 50 HP and they take 20 HP of necrotic damage (and fail the save, if appropriate), then they are now on 14 HP out of a max of 30 HP.
If the character has 14 HP out of a max of 30 HP and they take 20 HP of necrotic damage, then they are unconscious and have to start making death saves. When/if they stabilise they will be on 1 HP out of a max of 10 HP.
If the character has 14 HP out of a max of 19 HP and they take 20 HP of necrotic damage, then they are dead.
Lesser Restoration won't cut it, it's pretty specific about the conditions it ends. Greater Restoration specifically says that it will end lowered hp max condition though. But yeah, the reduced HP max will typically vanish after an extended rest.
Depending on the monster, they could be undead!
which was totally heinous, and really sadistic especially in 2e
