Delivering a baby

[der_kluge]

I think this is an interesting encounter as well, but I'd be loathe to apply some sort of number on the DC. If there aren't any complications, a woman can deliver a child without any outside assistance whatsoever. It just happens. It happens all the time in our world.

If a party cleric did want to help (or was asked to help) I'd assign a DC 10 heal check to cover the basic things like cleaning the baby, how to cut the umbilical cord, and whatever else needs to be taken care of. I'd figure most clerics with any sort of training in healing would cover this kind of stuff.

 

[der_kluge]

And I'd just like to add that I'm still waiting for Patryn of Elvenshae to remove those .sig virus remnants from his signature. It's been 3 months, dude!

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

And I'd just like to add that I'm still waiting for Patryn of Elvenshae to remove those .sig virus remnants from his signature. It's been 3 months, dude!

The .sig virus lives.

 

[irdeggman]

Here is an interesting issue that arrises when using fort saves as the determining factor:

Dwarves, gnomes and halflings are better at it then humans and elves are worse.

dwarves/gnomes get (+) to Con and elves get (-) while halflings get a +1 to all saving throws.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Here is an interesting issue that arrises when using fort saves as the determining factor:

Dwarves, gnomes and halflings are better at it then humans and elves are worse.

dwarves/gnomes get (+) to Con and elves get (-) while halflings get a +1 to all saving throws.

Yeah, I thought of that. Halflings are lucky in all things, while dwarves and gnomes are naturally tough in all respects.

As for elves, consider: Elven births are a rare thing to begin with, and a higher chance of birthing problems might be a reason. Additionally, it means that elves are more likely to seek out the services of a midwife or healer, making an elven birth even more of a community occurrence.

Yeah, I'm enamored of my house rules so far.

 

[irdeggman]

.

As for elves, consider: Elven births are a rare thing to begin with, and a higher chance of birthing problems might be a reason. Additionally, it means that elves are more likely to seek out the services of a midwife or healer, making an elven birth even more of a community occurrence.

Yeah, I'm enamored of my house rules so far.

There was a dragon article a while ago talking about elves and the reason that they don't have as many children as one would expect considering their 'free' life style. It basically had do do with the fact that they ovulate infrequently due to their metabalism, etc.

I prefer that explanation to the fact that they have unhealthy births more often due to their weaker constitution. I do like the community aspect though, does make sense (also makes sense for the clannish dwarves too).

Especially since the house-rules you proposed don't really support the parent not suffereing from childbirth. What is the effect of suffering a lot of temporary con damage? They also by using temp con damage on the mother don't ahve an effect on the child - which is probably wrong. IMO the con damage is better focused on the child, giving them a reduced con. Possibly using an invers of the aging effects table, i.e., reducing ability scores for youngsters. Or maybe just doubling the con effects on the child.


from the SRD

Ability Damaged: The character has temporarily lost 1 or more ability score points. Lost points return at a rate of 1 per day unless noted otherwise by the condition dealing the damage. A character with Strength 0 falls to the ground and is helpless. A character with Dexterity 0 is paralyzed. A character with Constitution 0 is dead. A character with Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma 0 is unconscious. Ability damage is different from penalties to ability scores, which go away when the conditions causing them go away.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Especially since the house-rules you proposed don't really support the parent not suffereing from childbirth.

What do you mean? A mother who makes the first three saves delivers the child without taking any Con damage.

A mother who has a particularly difficult delivery - i.e., continually fails the Fort checks - begins taking Con damage, eventually reaching death, if it becomes that bad. In between, she finds each additional attempt harder and harder to make, making the presence of a healer or midwife all the more important. The long spacing - 10 hours, average, before death can occur - ensures that there's time for *someone* to ride heroicly to the rescue.

What is the effect of suffering a lot of temporary con damage?

Well, you lose 1HP per HD for every 2 points of Con damage you take (to a minimum of 1 HP per HD), a -1 penalty on Fort saves for every 2 points of damage, and, eventually, you can die.

Each day of rest will restore 2 points of ability damage, so a mother who had a particularly difficult delivery might need almost a week to recover from it. One who had an easy delivery will be good to go the next day.

They also by using temp con damage on the mother don't ahve an effect on the child - which is probably wrong.

I did that deliberately, however.

 

[irdeggman]

What do you mean? A mother who makes the first three saves delivers the child without taking any Con damage.

What I meant is that only the mother takes damage.

Quote:
They also by using temp con damage on the mother don't have an effect on the child - which is probably wrong.


I did that deliberately, however.

That is very definitely going in the wrong direction, IMO. In reality the first casualty in childbirth is the child and not the mother.