Death Saving Throws - Make a save = You live?

[Ninja-to]

If you are down to negative hit points, you make death saving throws. You fail 3, you die.

Ok understood. If you make a save, does it mean you 'stabalize' like we did in 3.5, or do you keep having to make them until brought back above zero?

Whoever knows the answer, could you point out where this is stated too?

 

[Kordeth]

You keep making them until somebody stabilizes you, or heals you, or you roll a natural 20. It's all spelled out on p. 295 of the PHB.

 

[Drakhar]

PHB pg 295

Lower than 10: You slip one step closer to death. If you get this result three times before you take a rest you die.

10-19: No Change.

20: Spend a healing surge. When you do so, you are considered to have 0 Hit points, and then your healing surge restores hit points as normal.

 

[dragon_eater]

If you are down to negative hit points, you make death saving throws. You fail 3, you die.

Ok understood. If you make a save, does it mean you 'stabalize' like we did in 3.5, or do you keep having to make them until brought back above zero?

Whoever knows the answer, could you point out where this is stated too?

Player's Handbook page 295.
1-9 - One Strike, get three strikes and your out.
10-19 - No change, but you still need to roll next turn.
20 - You get to spend a healing surge. If you don't have a healing surge then it sucks to be you, roll again next turn.

EDIT: Run from the Ninja!

 

[Starbuck_II]

If you are down to negative hit points, you make death saving throws. You fail 3, you die.

Ok understood. If you make a save, does it mean you 'stabalize' like we did in 3.5, or do you keep having to make them until brought back above zero?

Whoever knows the answer, could you point out where this is stated too?

Nope, unless you roll a 20. You just don't get worse.

a 10-19 just means you don't get worse.
A 20, lets you spend a healing surge (if you have one).
A 1-9, means you get worse (fail that thrice and you die)

 

[Kordeth]

A 20, lets you spend a second wind (if you haven't yet).

This is incorrect. Rolling a 20 lets you spend a healing surge, not use your second wind. That's an important distinction, since second wind is an action that can be used once per encounter, while spending a healing surge is something you can do whenever a trigger allows you to.

Also remember that if an effect lets a dying character spend a healing surge and he has no healing surges left, he's stabilized and healed to 1 hp.

 

[Ninja-to]

Nope, unless you roll a 20. You just don't get worse.

a 10-19 just means you don't get worse.
A 20, lets you spend a healing surge (if you have one).
A 1-9, means you get worse (fail that thrice and you die)

Thank you all. I'm nowhere near page 295 so I guess I better get reading. This was just really bugging me while working through the first pages and needed an answer. I have a game on next week and don't know if I'll be able to finish the whole book by then. Cheers!

 

[dragon_eater]

Also remember that if an effect lets a dying character spend a healing surge and he has no healing surges left, he's stabilized and healed to 1 hp.

The Death Save is a special case which says if you don't have a healing surge then your condition don't change.

 

[Ninja-to]

EDIT: Run from the Ninja!

You can run but you can't hide, especially in the dark...

 

[GorTeX]

You keep making them until somebody stabilizes you, or heals you, or you roll a natural 20. It's all spelled out on p. 295 of the PHB.

Note that it actually is 20 or higher...doesn't have to be a natural 20