D&D 5E (2014) Bloodied Condition in 5e:

[dave2008]

Death spirals are a particular subtype of "dangerous" that is unfun for many people.

And great fun for others!

 

[generic]

It's not "many" at all. The concept is there, but I don't know if it was there much at the beginning of 5e. I seem to recall seeing it more often in later monster books.

I don't have an exact list, but it is, in fact "many", and some of those "many" were in the Monster Manual IIRC.

 

[jayoungr]

And great fun for others!

Agreed. It hasn't stopped Savage Worlds from being mega-popular, for example.

And even I don't mind death spirals if they're nonlethal. The Condition Track in Star Wars Saga Edition is basically a death spiral, for example, and it's one of the best parts of the system IMHO.

 

[Nebulous]

I don't have an exact list, but it is, in fact "many", and some of those "many" were in the Monster Manual IIRC.

How is it worded in the MM? I can do a keyword search.

 

[generic]

How is it worded in the MM? I can do a keyword search.

I believe the wording is: "when reduced to half its hit points or fewer" or "when at half its hit points or fewer".

 

[dave2008]

I don't think this is the best use of the Bloodied keyword. I would go back to 4e where certain abilities are triggered at bloodied. This was especially fun for monsters when Reactions trigger and they get tougher in the middle of a fight.

Yes, but that requires more tinkering. A condition can be inserted pretty easily, it is just the kickstarter version is better than mine for the general community

 

[Charlaquin]

I don't roll for morale, but I do have creatures logically retreat if the odds are stacked against them. That said, I DO wish the monster stat blocks had a simple morale # to indicate their propensity to fight to the death or not. (Coward - Fearless)

That works well too. Personally I like the roll because it gives me something I can fiddle with - giving advantage when they’re in a large group and/or their superior officer is present for example, or disadvantage if they’re outnumbered, or adjusting the DC to account for other factors. Sometimes I’ll have the monsters retreat without a roll or stand their ground despite being bloodied, and other times I’ll have a monster’s reaction to a failed morale save be to surrender, or berserk or something rather than always retreat (also retreat can be either a tactical withdrawal or an outright panicked flight, depending on the Monster and the situation.)

 

[dave2008]

I believe the wording is: "when reduced to half its hit points or fewer" or "when at half its hit points or fewer".

I've seen that too, but I can't think of a particular monster off the top of my head. Zombies have undead fortitude which is similar.

 

[Nebulous]

Yes, but that requires more tinkering. A condition can be inserted pretty easily, it is just the kickstarter version is better than mine for the general community

Yes, that would require a substantial rewriting - or addition to - existing material. Fortunately that's also easy for a DM to add. For monsters anyway.

 

[Umbran]

Agreed. It hasn't stopped Savage Worlds from being mega-popular, for example.

Well... perhaps we need to define "mega-popular". If Savage Worlds is "mega-popular", then what the heck is 5e? Giga-popular? Peta-popular? Yotta-popular?

Or, are we really being just a tad hyperbolic on the popularity of this particular feature?

And even I don't mind death spirals if they're nonlethal.

Um... it is a DEATH spiral.