Can you lower your own hitpoints?

[Wolfwood2]

There are some situations out there, such as some of the barbarian powers, where it is to a PC's advantage to be bloodied. Given the nature of a hitpoints, can a PC just declare they are voluntarily losing their "avoid damage" mojo and immediately lower their hitpoints to the bloodied value?

Why or why not?

 

[RigaMortus2]

can a PC just declare they are voluntarily losing their "avoid damage" mojo and immediately lower their hitpoints to the bloodied value?

No.

Why or why not?

Because the rules don't say that you can. And you couldn't do this in previous editions either, which lends support that you can't do it in this edition unless it is specifically called out somewhere that you can.

That said, there is always the Blood Mage paragon class, which is the closest thing to S&M that you can do to yourself.

 

[Klaus]

There are some situations out there, such as some of the barbarian powers, where it is to a PC's advantage to be bloodied. Given the nature of a hitpoints, can a PC just declare they are voluntarily losing their "avoid damage" mojo and immediately lower their hitpoints to the bloodied value?

Why or why not?

Sure you can. Just attack yourself. Imagine a barbarian that runs his hand through his sword, drawing blood and getting psyched for battle.

Other than that, no. It's not like you can, in real life, to get more tired just by willing it.

 

[the8bitdeity]

You can choose NOT to spend healing surges. I forsee some interesting table discussion when our cleric tells the Dragonborn Barbarian (I allowed him to ret-conn from Fighter since it fit the idea better) she Healing Worded him and he decides NOT to spend a healing surge to say in "bloodied".

 

[Hypersmurf]

Imagine a barbarian that runs his hand through his sword, drawing blood and getting psyched for battle.

Blouse.

The hardcore barbarian runs his sword through his hand.

-Hyp.

 

[aurance]

As a completely untested house rule, I would allow a character to inflict their bloodied hit point value in damage to themselves as a standard action that provokes an opportunity attack.

This could also be used for suicidal enemies that would rather die than be captured, and a PC can use the opportunity attack as some sort of improvised grab to stop them from seppuku.

 

[Minigiant]

I'd say that you can choose yourself as the target for any basic melee attack. It would be an automatic hit and you would get to chose if it is a critical hit or not. If you chose to make it a critical hit, the attack counts as a coup de grace too. You'd also have combat advantage against yourself.

You'd basically be hitting yourself. You can't miss but you might not die. I'd only say basic attacks since you should not be able to Tide of Iron yourself.

 

[Klaus]

Blouse.

The hardcore barbarian runs his sword through his hand.

-Hyp.

"Blouse"? That's new, and I've yoinked it!

 

[Hypersmurf]

"Blouse"? That's new, and I've yoinked it!

It's shorthand for the full expression, "You big girl's blouse!"

-Hyp.

 

[ki11erDM]

It's shorthand for the full expression, "You big girl's blouse!"

-Hyp.

http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-big3.htm

Think the lord for *insertsearchengineofchoice* I had no clue what in the world you were talking about! hehe.