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<blockquote data-quote="hastur_nz" data-source="post: 7136191" data-attributes="member: 40592">I think D&amp;D, from at least 4e through to 5e, definitely favours offense not healing, as an optimal strategy.&nbsp; So what you see is pretty common, although the level of 'plough on even if we might be losing' can vary.&nbsp; Remember, what's obvious to you isn't necessarily obvious at all to the PC's, until someone falls down, at which most players who are conditioned to favour attack over healing, will simply 'double down' on their attempts to 'win through attack'.Anyway, I haven't tested this, but here's an idea I'm about ready to try out:When a PC (or NPC/Monster at DM's discretion) reaches 0 hp, it is rendered Prone and Incapacitated, and must start making Death Saves as per standard 5e rules.On a first failed Death Save, the character is rendered Prone and Stunned.On a second failed Death Save, the character is rendered Prone and Unconscious.On a third failed Death Save, the character is Dead.Optional Variant: the PC could take an Action or Reaction, but after that's resolved they immediately fail a Death Save.NB: the character is Prone, mostly to give them a chance of being &quot;left for dead&quot;, rather than &quot;smashed to death before they even hit the ground&quot;.The idea is to not render the fallen PC completely helpless, but give them a chance to help themself in some way e.g. crawl away, grab a potion, etc.You may or may not also want to let PC's expend Hit Dice as a standard action, ala 4e Healing Surges.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="hastur_nz, post: 7136191, member: 40592"] I think D&D, from at least 4e through to 5e, definitely favours offense not healing, as an optimal strategy. So what you see is pretty common, although the level of 'plough on even if we might be losing' can vary. Remember, what's obvious to you isn't necessarily obvious at all to the PC's, until someone falls down, at which most players who are conditioned to favour attack over healing, will simply 'double down' on their attempts to 'win through attack'. Anyway, I haven't tested this, but here's an idea I'm about ready to try out: When a PC (or NPC/Monster at DM's discretion) reaches 0 hp, it is rendered Prone and Incapacitated, and must start making Death Saves as per standard 5e rules. On a first failed Death Save, the character is rendered Prone and Stunned. On a second failed Death Save, the character is rendered Prone and Unconscious. On a third failed Death Save, the character is Dead. Optional Variant: the PC could take an Action or Reaction, but after that's resolved they immediately fail a Death Save. NB: the character is Prone, mostly to give them a chance of being "left for dead", rather than "smashed to death before they even hit the ground". The idea is to not render the fallen PC completely helpless, but give them a chance to help themself in some way e.g. crawl away, grab a potion, etc. You may or may not also want to let PC's expend Hit Dice as a standard action, ala 4e Healing Surges. [/QUOTE]

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