Dragon Shamans + Vigor + Stabilization?

[Wik]

Alright. So let's say the group's Dragon Shaman has his Vigor ability activated (meaning everyone in the group has fast healing 1, but only up to 50% of their max health).

One of the players in the group gets knocked to -8 hit points. Is he still under the effect of the dragon shaman's aura, or are all bets off the moment he's knocked unconscious? Does he automatically stabilize on his turn (since he heals one point of damage magically), or is there some other rule that takes effect, here?

Also, what happens if the Shaman is knocked to zero hit points? In the group I run, the dragon shaman player (I'm theGM) argues that since 0 HP is really still being "semi-conscious", his vigor aura is still in effect. I can agree with that, sure. But he thinks the aura should be in effect even when he's at -1 HP or less - and I don't. Is he right? Does he have to be conscious to have an aura active?

I could use a little bit of argument over these issues. We have our solutions, and they're working alright so far, but I have a feeling I'm missing something.

 

[MarkB]

Alright. So let's say the group's Dragon Shaman has his Vigor ability activated (meaning everyone in the group has fast healing 1, but only up to 50% of their max health).

One of the players in the group gets knocked to -8 hit points. Is he still under the effect of the dragon shaman's aura,

Yes.

or are all bets off the moment he's knocked unconscious?

No.

Does he automatically stabilize on his turn (since he heals one point of damage magically),

Yes.

or is there some other rule that takes effect, here?

No.

Also, what happens if the Shaman is knocked to zero hit points? In the group I run, the dragon shaman player (I'm theGM) argues that since 0 HP is really still being "semi-conscious", his vigor aura is still in effect. I can agree with that, sure. But he thinks the aura should be in effect even when he's at -1 HP or less - and I don't. Is he right? Does he have to be conscious to have an aura active?

By the book, the aura is an indefinite-duration supermatural ability that requires no concentration to maintain, so he'll continue to radiate his active aura so long as he's alive. All he can't do is switch to a different aura. Thus, if his Vigor aura is active when he goes into negatives, he's in luck - he gets free healing each turn, as normal. If any other aura is active, he doesn't get to switch it to the Vigor aura.

 

[Scurvy_Platypus]

That's odd...

I'm reading on page 13 of the PHB2 and it says:

Unless otherwise noted, your draconic aura affects all allies within 30 feet (including yourself) with line of effect to you. Your aura is dismissed if you become unconscious or are slain, but otherwise it remains in effect even if you are incapable of acting.

Given that you're unconscious when you go into negatives, it seems kinda clear to me that as soon as the Dragon Shaman hits negative, the aura is going away as he drops unconscious. Unless he's got some way of actually staying conscious while being negative.

Did I miss something somewhere? Is Vigor (Fast healing) allowing people to stay conscious when they're negative?

 

[frankthedm]

That's odd...

I'm reading on page 13 of the PHB2 and it says...

Did I miss something somewhere? Is Vigor (Fast healing) allowing people to stay conscious when they're negative?

The others missed that text.

 

[glass]

That's odd...

I'm reading on page 13 of the PHB2 and it says:

Given that you're unconscious when you go into negatives, it seems kinda clear to me that as soon as the Dragon Shaman hits negative, the aura is going away as he drops unconscious. Unless he's got some way of actually staying conscious while being negative.

Did I miss something somewhere? Is Vigor (Fast healing) allowing people to stay conscious when they're negative?

The OP didn't ask about negatives, he asked about zero hp. At 0 hp you are still concious.


glass.

 

[frankthedm]

True enough. Unless the dragon shaman gets sent to zero after the start of his turn, when thg fast healing happens, he should be good.

Now, If switching auras is a standard action, the dragon shaman is out of luck if he has some other aura going and he gets sent to zero.

He activates the healing aura, loses a HP, the aure deactivates and he begins to die.

At the beginning of each of the creature’s turns, it heals a certain number of hit points (defined in its description).

 

[starwed]

Switching auras is a free action, luckily enough.

 

[MarkB]

Yeah, I had missed the part about unconsciousness. Sorry about that.