Death saving throw count

[Mesh Hong]

Happens to the best of us.

I played for a long time thinking that it was 3 failed saves before an extended rest and you died.

Thats the way I run it, and in 18 levels with a 6 man team I have only seen one death, and it was all three failed saves in one encounter.

Personally I think it is far too trivial to have the counter reset at a short rest. With the amount of healing available to them an adventuring group needs something like this hanging over them to add a little extra element of danger to their day.

 

[Obryn]

I found out about the death saving throws the hard way like eveyone else and actually had a pc die in LFR. I was not happy. Is anyone else unhappy with the way the rule is written? What would be the point of going through all the trouble of saving the pc only to have him die on a single missed save?

I'd say the rule for PC death is already really, really generous.

If you've failed two death saves and don't have a ton of HPs, your best bet is to hang back and chuck javelins. It's a tactical decision, much like everything else.

Unless, the rule changes all my pcs will stay out of combat during an encounter until the encounter is resolved. The other players will hate it but a pc would do what he could to prevent himself from dying (unlyess he doesn't mind sacrificing himself and dying all the time).

Boy, parties will line up around the block waiting for YOU to join them! If you don't want to meaningfully participate in encounters, you should probably stay home and not show up to the sessions. That way they'll at least have a group where every member is productive.

The saves should be reset after a pc recieves healing OR reset after takign a second wind which should count as a short rest during combat. Anyway that is how I will run it in my home games. I sent an emil to WotC regarding my dislike of the rule but have nto recieved any reply.
Thoughts, questions and concerns anyone?

I disagree. I like the rule as it is. It sucks you got caught on the sharp end of it without knowing it, but the system makes it pretty hard to die already. I don't want it to be even harder.

-O

 

[keterys]

I play something like three times a week, since months before the books even came out... and I haven't seen a single death in a non-demo game. The rules don't need to be even more lenient.

Even if part of me does like the idea of death count resetting with an extended rest... it'd be overly limiting I suspect, making people just stop playing for the day, which isn't good.

 

[Mort_Q]

Bastard!

I lost a fighter the other day in combat. Went from unbloodied (I was down less than a healing surge) to dead (negative bloodied) without even a death save. Stupid NPC Ranger! Got an extra pair of attacks for bloodying me with the first pair.

DM got some good rolls, and that's all she wrote.