Do monsters die at 0 HP or -10 hp?

[caudor]

I understand the rule as it applies to characters...at 0 hp the character becomes helpless (passes out). At -10 HP, the character dies.

However, I can't find whether or not this rule applies to monsters (or NPC opponents). Does it, or does the monster simply die at 0 HP?

Thanks.

 

[DemonAtheist]

it applies to monsters that are not undead.

 

[Kirin'Tor]

By the rules, monsters are in no way different than characters; Except undead & constructs, which die are destroyed at 0.

However, for un-redeemable bad-guys, many DMs simply call monsters dead at 0, unless the players have some reason to prevent death (IE capture, interrogation, etc.)

 

[HeavyG]

Yes. Undead, and constructs, die when they reach 0 hit points.

 

[Particle_Man]

That said, it is a fairly common house rule in campaigns I play in that only pcs and important npcs get negative hp (this is just to save the DM time, more than anything else). But in one campaign, the bad guy was reduced to neg. hp, but then a healer on his side got him back on his feet for a while.

And one DM yesterday held that my paladin's special mount died at 0, but that was after the paladin died (like, 3 rounds after -- the war dog was avenging the gnome's death heroically).

 

[Ottergame]

Note that you do NOT pass out at 0 hit points, you become disabled. You are still conscious and can take actions, though pretty much anything other than moving makes you lose 1 hit point right after the action resolves.

 

[shilsen]

By the rules, monsters are in no way different than characters; Except undead & constructs, which die are destroyed at 0.

However, for un-redeemable bad-guys, many DMs simply call monsters dead at 0, unless the players have some reason to prevent death (IE capture, interrogation, etc.)

What he said.

 

[Victim]

We usually assume that unimportant baddies will bleed out without rolling, but they get to go until -10 too. Sometimes, depending on the characters and enemies, Cure Insignificants will applied to stabilize so we have prisoners to talk to. And then the ruthless, hardcore people can coup de grace all the dying guys.

 

[Storminator]

That said, it is a fairly common house rule in campaigns I play in that only pcs and important npcs get negative hp (this is just to save the DM time, more than anything else). But in one campaign, the bad guy was reduced to neg. hp, but then a healer on his side got him back on his feet for a while.

I use this chart:

Neg hp...prob of dying
1...........0.39
2...........0.43
3...........0.48
4...........0.53
5...........0.59
6...........0.66
7...........0.73
8...........0.81
9...........0.90
10.........1.00

So if a guy drops to -5, I roll a percent and see if he bleeds out (59% chance). Then I decide if the foe wants to go on to become a future BBEG.

PS

 

[the Jester]

I usually don't bother to check for stabilization for mooks, but sometimes I roll or decide that one lives through the battle. Later, the pcs might encounter them as a villain, mercenary or bystander; he might even reform and become a spy or informer against the baddies.

This, of course, is rare, but it has happened.