'close wounds' & death.

[krupintupple]

the spell close wounds is completely awesome, especially since it's an immediate action - it really allows our group's cleric to ensure that none of us go down, especially during the really hectic battles. however, we're kind of confused about the wording of the spell. it heals 1d4+level as an immediate action, but let me give you a few examples of how we feel this might work:

fighter bob has 5 hp left, and is clubbed by a hill giant for 20 damage.

1) does close wounds merely reduce this damage by 1d4+level, effectively negating the damage as soon as it hits?

2) does close wounds heal after the damage has been applied, thusly being ineffective as bob has been reduced below -10 and is dead, so healing wouldn't work?

3) does close wounds heal after the damage has been applied, but technically, since you can't go below -10, it's an automatic "Get out of Death free card", as bob would drop to -10 and then at the same time, be healed 1d4+level.

this last interpretation is stretching our game, as a foe with 2 hp left was criticalled by a charging PC barbarian for something stupid like 51 damage; does this mean that the enemy drops to -10 (since you can go no lower) and then springs up to 1d4+level?

your patience and help is greatly appreciated.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

The spell explicitly says it can be used to save an ally from a fatal hit, IIRC, so I guess the closest interpretation would be c). If you don't like thinking about it in that way, I prefer to think of it as one of the few simultaneous effects in the game. Thus, it's healing at the exact same time Bob is being damaged, and keeping him from reaching -10. I don't necessarily like the concept of it "negating" the damage being done, because a) it does nothing to make the hit less severe and b) if that ogre had done 6 damage and close wounds was used and healed 9, it would still heal 9, not just wipe out the 6 damage and stop there. In this case, it would prevent Bob from ever going unconscious, so he would not have to get up from prone or pick up any dropped items.

 

[Kask]

the spell close wounds is completely awesome, especially since it's an immediate action

What splat book is it in?

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Spell Compendium. Possibly C.Divine before that, too.

 

[frankthedm]

3) does close wounds heal after the damage has been applied, but technically, since you can't go below -10, it's an automatic "Get out of Death free card", as bob would drop to -10 and then at the same time, be healed 1d4+level.

this last interpretation is stretching our game, as a foe with 2 hp left was criticalled by a charging PC barbarian for something stupid like 51 damage; does this mean that the enemy drops to -10 (since you can go no lower) and then springs up to 1d4+level?

your patience and help is greatly appreciated.

Whatchootalking about? HP can and do go below -10. It is ability scores that can't go below 0.

Dead (-10 Hit Points or Lower)
When your character’s current hit points drop to -10 or lower, or if he takes massive damage (see above), he’s dead. A character can also die from taking ability damage or suffering an ability drain that reduces his Constitution to 0.

 

[krupintupple]

Whatchootalking about? HP can and do go below -10. It is ability scores that can't go below 0.

Dead (-10 Hit Points or Lower)
When your character’s current hit points drop to -10 or lower, or if he takes massive damage (see above), he’s dead. A character can also die from taking ability damage or suffering an ability drain that reduces his Constitution to 0.

THIS!

that is what i was missing! many many thanks! now it makes *perfect sense* - it's a little 'pick me up' when the cards are down, but it's probably not going to save you from swimming through a magma pool on the sun.

 

[Shin Okada]

You need Delay Death to save someone got a really hard hit.

 

[Muddman]

A little off topic but funny story involving Delay Death!

The fighter was up against a Marilith while the big baddie was doing something massive and epic. She was down and about to get sliced up when suddenly the cleric casts Delay death on her.

I know what your thinking, the Marilith would go all blender on her, but no! Instead she grabs the fighter's down body and throws it into a nearby Blade Barrier!

Since she can't die from massive hit point loss, she was taking damage for the rest of the EPIC battle, which was over 20 rounds long. I had the player roll the damage every round since she didn't have anything else to do, calculating your own demise is kind of fun!

By the end she was at -1300 HP!

Classic