Dear WotC: Please Kill Massive Damage

[Remathilis]

The other day, I was playing some high-level D&D and remembered how annoying the 50 hp = fort save or die rule is. Especially since at high level, EVERYONE was doing at least 50 hp in a hit. The monsters sure were, so were the mages and the rogue's SA. The fighter did that easily on a crit. Either way, few of any of us actually could fail that DC 15 save at our level, so it was a formality that eventually got tossed due to the fact it slowed things down even further.

Hopefully, this artifact gets tossed.

 

[erc1971]

I never used this rule as once you got to the higher levels and everything did at least 50 damage per attack, that means a PC was going to die once every 20 times they got hit (roll a natural 1 on that save!).

 

[Lord Xtheth]

I've never used massive damage.
Alternately, when monsters/PCs are doing 50 damage/hit they also have the actions/feats/skills/combat moves to deal enough damage to also kill the monster/PC anyway so the point is moot.

 

[Nikosandros]

Either way, few of any of us actually could fail that DC 15 save at our level, so it was a formality that eventually got tossed due to the fact it slowed things down even further.

It's not a formality... it's a Russian Roulette, because the save will be failed on a natural 1. In any case, I certainly hope that the rule is modified in 4e.

 

[Sammael]

I've never used the massive damage rule in my games. I also don't recall playing with any other DMs who did.

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

We use it. Remember, it must be a single attack. That being said, I can definitely see how it will come into play a lot more often at higher levels. But by then save bonuses should be such that a natural 1 is needed to fail.

We're playing 15th-16th level and it doesn't come up all that often. But then, we don't have totally twinked characters either. So your mileage may vary.

It's a good way to keep people honest though (via the ever-present threat of instant death).

 

[Black Knight Irios]

I've never used the massive damage rule in my games. I also don't recall playing with any other DMs who did.

Word.
-I don't care if there is a rule for massive dmg in 4E. If there is one I read throug it and decide...

 

[Masquerade]

I've never used the massive damage rule in my games. I also don't recall playing with any other DMs who did.

Same here, and I don't expect to see it at all in 4e.

 

[Anthtriel]

It's a good way to keep people honest though (via the ever-present threat of instant death).

It's also a good method for TPKs out of nowhere. "Two natural ones in the three man group? Uh oh ..."

 

[WyzardWhately]

Never used it myself. It seems to sort of miss the point of the whole scalability thing. Since they've said 'no save or die' I'd be pretty surprised if this stayed in.