Con Drain = H.P. Loss = Death?

[Yellow Sign]

These came up in a recent game. A vampire had grappled a PC and he started to Drain his CON. The character was already pretty low in hit points. Can the loss of hit points from the CON loss kill the character? I know that if a character's CON reaches 0 the character is dead.

 

[CRGreathouse]

These came up in a recent game. A vampire had grappled a PC and he started to Drain his CON. The character was already pretty low in hit points. Can the loss of hit points from the CON loss kill the character? I know that if a character's CON reaches 0 the character is dead.

Yes, the Con loss can kill even before Con 0 if you're damaged. Reduce his max hit points from Con loss, apply the minimum 1 hp per HD, and then subtract the damage he's taken.

 

[CRGreathouse]

-double post-

 

[AuraSeer]

What he said.
If your current damage is more than 1 hp/level, you'll probably die from hit point loss while you still have Con remaining. This is especially true for d4-HD classes; barbarians and other tough guys are more likely to survive down to Con 0.

 

[Diirk]

If a character’s Constitution score drops, then he loses 1 hit point per Hit Die for every point by which his Constitution modifier drops. A hit point score can’t be reduced by Constitution damage or drain to less than 1 hit point per Hit Die.

You can't die from purely con damage til it hits 0. Depending on how you read that, you may or may not be able to be killed by con damage (while above 0) if you've also taken some physical damage, it could be argued either way.

 

[Storminator]

You can't die from purely con damage til it hits 0. Depending on how you read that, you may or may not be able to be killed by con damage (while above 0) if you've also taken some physical damage, it could be argued either way.

It's fairly clear. If you're a 5th level fighter with 40 hp, and 35 points of damage, at 1 CON you'll be down 25 hp, or at -10 hp, and dead.

Tracking the hp rolled at each level might save you a few points on the CON drain, due to the 1 hp minimum, but I've rarely seen hp tracked at each level.

PS

 

[Legildur]

Tracking the hp rolled at each level might save you a few points on the CON drain, due to the 1 hp minimum, but I've rarely seen hp tracked at each level.

Given the mortality rate in our games, we religiously track hit points gained at each level (before Con bonus). When you regain levels, aour DM is generous enough to allow you to hold the old roll or make a new one.

 

[Storminator]

Given the mortality rate in our games, we religiously track hit points gained at each level (before Con bonus). When you regain levels, aour DM is generous enough to allow you to hold the old roll or make a new one.

I used to use level loss, but now I just inflict negative levels on people. It's a lot simpler.

PS

 

[JiffyPopTart]

Lets say im a 5th level fighter with no CON bonus and I have maxed out my rolls. Thats 50 HP at full strength.

Then I take 49 points of damage, so I am at 1hp, and barely clinging to life.

Then I get some points of CON drained....all the way down to a CON of 1.

I would think the end result would be I would now have a max HP of 5 instead of 50 (minimum of 1 per level), but I am still at 1hp and still not dying. Does it say anywhere that you lose hp by getting CON drained?

DS

 

[Legildur]

From the 3.5E SRD:

If a character’s Constitution score drops, then he loses 1 hit point per Hit Die for every point by which his Constitution modifier drops. A hit point score can’t be reduced by Constitution damage or drain to less than 1 hit point per Hit Die.