Can the First Aid Skill "Use Second Wind" be used on unconscious characters?

[fba827]

Ummm.....if the healing surge would take them above 1hp it will right? It automatically raises you to 1 hp even if your negative past your surge, right?

When you are unconscious, if you get any sort of healing, you go to 0 plus amount healed.
So even if you were at -5, and get 10 hp healed, you are now at 10hp

 

[fba827]

If you do use a power that makes them spend a healing surge to heal and they are Dying they go to 1 Hit Point if I recall right.

If I recall, I thought they went to 0 then gain hit points according to their healing surge. I have to look this up now.

King Nate is correct, though I think Zaran is thinking of something different (albeit related).

There is a rule where if are helping a dying creature, if the healing effect required him to spend a healing surge, but he has none left, he goes to 1 hp.
(It's with "Healing the dying" p295, in a grey box in the lower right corner)

Honestly, I never knew that rule, I just noticed it. But I feel like that opens a can of worms ... like i guess that means you can still force a second wind (without defense bonus) with the heal skill on an unconcious character even if he's already used up all his surges.... ?

(Of course, it's really late and I haven't slept so I may just be reading this wrong).

 

[Hypersmurf]

Honestly, I never knew that rule, I just noticed it. But I feel like that opens a can of worms ... like i guess that means you can still force a second wind (without defense bonus) with the heal skill on an unconcious character even if he's already used up all his surges.... ?

If he's out of healing surges for the day but hasn't spent his Second Wind in this encounter, then yes.

If he's already spent his Second Wind, though, he's out of luck.

-Hyp.

 

[Ninja-to]

Okay.

I morally support him going to read that section.

He asked a question, I answered it, he wants rules lawyery about it. I was in a mood where I don't feel like reading the PHB for other people, so I told him where to get the answer for himself.

Speaking of reading things, try reading my original post. I quoted the PHB and the page number, and you completely misunderstood the question, which others have already answered here. It's like you're trying to be condescending by telling me to read the PHB and yet it's ironic that you completely misread the OP.

Aka complete fail. Nice moves.

PS, and no you didn't answer my question either. Probably because you never read it.

 

[DracoSuave]

We had a PC go down tonight who hadn't used his Second Wind yet. Can other players use the "Use Second Wind" option from the Heal skill (PHB 185) on unconscious players? It says it can be used on players 'without the character spending an action.'

You asked a yes/no question. I bolded it for you. See? It's a yes/no question. I answered with 'Yes.'

Next time you want further elaboration, or discussion, ask for it instead of saying that you wanted it after the fact. I'm not a mind reader.

 

[Nail]

You asked a yes/no question. I bolded it for you. See? It's a yes/no question. I answered with 'Yes.'

<chuckle>

You sure did! And then he asked for you to elaborate.

....and you answered:

The PHB. Death and Dying section. Go. Read it. Would have saved you a trip."

Interestingly, the Death and Dying section does not reveal whether or not other players can use the "Use Second Wind" option from the Heal skill (PHB 185) on unconscious players.

Huh.

 

[Ninja-to]

You asked a yes/no question. I bolded it for you. See? It's a yes/no question. I answered with 'Yes.'

Next time you want further elaboration, or discussion, ask for it instead of saying that you wanted it after the fact. I'm not a mind reader.

Sillly me. I assumed a response like 'yes' or 'no' might also be accompanied by some kind of support or reasoning. My bad.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Aaaaaa-and, enough with the bickering.

-Hyp.
(Moderator)

 

[Ninja-to]

Aaaaaa-and, enough with the bickering.

-Hyp.
(Moderator)

Couldn't agree more. I've never had to deal with this sort of thing when posting questions before. I guess some people didn't get what they wanted for Christmas this year...

Moving on, the question was brought up during the said encounter where the players think it might be a good idea to *never* use your Second Wind, just in case you go down and can't be revived with it. Personally I think that's a crazy idea, but it got me thinking that they could have a point. It's quite a gamble but I suppose it's a 'tactic' of sorts. As a player, there's no way I'd risk that if I had the choice, but has anyone else considered doing this??

 

[MarkB]

Moving on, the question was brought up during the said encounter where the players think it might be a good idea to *never* use your Second Wind, just in case you go down and can't be revived with it. Personally I think that's a crazy idea, but it got me thinking that they could have a point. It's quite a gamble but I suppose it's a 'tactic' of sorts. As a player, there's no way I'd risk that if I had the choice, but has anyone else considered doing this??

It depends to some extent upon what available healing there is in the party. If you've got, say, two Leaders each with their own healing abilities at the ready, and you're not getting too seriously beaten-down by the opposition, then spending a Second Wind can feel like a waste in the long term, because it only gets you back your surge value, not the significant extra HP that a decent Cleric will add on top of that. Given that you only have a finite number of surges per day, there is some argument for getting the most out of each one.

Then consider the fact that, unless you're a dwarf, using your Second Wind costs you your standard action that round. In many cases, unless you're literally about to drop, you'd be better off spending it pounding the enemy some more, because the sooner you drop them, the less damage they're going to inflict upon you and your allies.

On the other hand, if you're playing in a group with no dedicated Leader, you're pretty much limited to Second Winds for in-combat healing, and will tend to spend them early.