Drowning

[candidus_cogitens]

I dont understand the rules for drowning. Apparently, if you miss your swim check by more than five, you go unconscious, and then two rounds later you are dead. If that is the case, it seems you'd be a fool to ever get wet!

If the player states that they are holding their breath, then they get tons of additional rounds to potentially succeed at their swim check before they would drown. Does this apply only if they specifically state that they are holding their breath?

 

[Orco42]

If the player states that they are holding their breath, then they get tons of additional rounds to potentially succeed at their swim check before they would drown. Does this apply only if they specifically state that they are holding their breath?

I think it should be assumed that they will hold their breath (unless they are knock out).

 

[Jack Haggerty]

From the SRD:

...Swimming in calm water only requires skill checks with a DC of 10. Trained swimmers can just take 10.

Fast-moving water is much more dangerous. On a successful Swim or Strength check (DC 15), it deals 1d3 points of subdual damage per round (1d6 points of normal damage if flowing over rocks and cascades). On a failed check, the character must make another check that round to avoid going under. If the character goes under, the character is drowning...

~~~

Drowning

Any character can hold her breath for a number of rounds equal to twice her Constitution score. After this period of time, the character must make a Constitution check (DC 10) every round in order to continue holding her breath. Each round, the DC increases by 1.

When the character finally fails her Constitution check, she begins to drown. In the first round, she falls unconscious (0 hp). In the following round, she drops to –1 hit points and is dying. In the third round, she dies.

It is possible to drown in substances other than water, such as sand, quicksand, fine dust, and silos full of grain.

It's not really as bad as you thought it was...

 

[candidus_cogitens]

Are you assuming that when it says that a character who misses their check is drowning it does not actually mean that they ARE drowning, but merely that they will drown when their breath runs out?

That may in fact be what it means, but it is not what it says. It says you are drowning, which presumably means that you are unconscious and will drop to -1 after one round.

While this may sound extreme, and I think it is, it is not unthinkable.

I'm left thinking that I'll just have to make up a house rule on this, since the rule is so unclear.

 

[dcollins]

Yes, it says that the character is "drowning".

What does drowning imply? "The Drowning Rule: Any character can hold her breath for a number of rounds..." (DMG p. 85)

Drowning implies and assumes breath-holding for a number of rounds prior to unconsciousness and then death.

 

[Jack Haggerty]

Then again, I wouldn't worry about it too much, because according to the encumbrance rules, most characters would sink like a stone when immersed in water anyway.

 

[candidus_cogitens]

Note however, that in the drowning rule text, Dungeon Master's Guide, p.85, it says that in the THIRD round, AFTER failing the swim check, falling unconscious and dropping to -1, the character THEN "drowns."

In other words, drowning is the end result. There is therefore nothing in the rules that indicates that a PC is assumed to be holding her breath while she swims.

The question is, when it says in the Player's Handbook that after failing your swim check by more than 5 you "begin to drown", what does that refer to? Does drowning begin with a full chest of air, or does drowning begin when your air runs out?

Your guess is as good as mine.

 

[Astlin]

"Swimming in calm water only requires skill checks with a DC of 10. Trained swimmers can just take 10."

Best single skill point I ever spent.


Astlin

 

[Grazzt]

Note however, that in the drowning rule text, Dungeon Master's Guide, p.85, it says that in the THIRD round, AFTER failing the swim check, falling unconscious and dropping to -1, the character THEN "drowns."

Right.

In other words, drowning is the end result. There is therefore nothing in the rules that indicates that a PC is assumed to be holding her breath while she swims.

Most people would hold their breath while swimming (underwater I mean). I dont think the PC should have to state explicitly every time "I hold my breath and duck under the water." I would just assume the PC (and player) are both smart enough to realize you have to hold your breath.

The question is, when it says in the Player's Handbook that after failing your swim check by more than 5 you "begin to drown", what does that refer to? Does drowning begin with a full chest of air, or does drowning begin when your air runs out?

Your guess is as good as mine.

Perhaps think of it as someone who becomes really tired while swimming and is attempting to stay afloat. When they duck under water, they have had time to hold their breath, so I would allow them a full breath of air (meaning they have to make a Con check after a number of rounds equal to twice their Con score) to avoid taking drowning damage. Now, if they are underwater when they fail their check, I would most likely begin applying drowning damage immediately.

If a questionable situation arises, such as someone pinning a PC underwater who may or may not have had time to grab a deep breath of air or a PC that is knocked into the water unexpectedly, you could rule they can only hold their breath for a number of rounds equal to their Con (rather than twice their Con) before having to make Con checks.

Perhaps an email to the Sage is in order for this one.

 

[candidus_cogitens]

Grazzt, I like your suggestions, which seem very reasonable as ad hoc DM rulings. It may be the case that their intention was to assume a full chest of air, although I'm still not sure. I really would like to get a sage ruling on this.

Can someone tell me how to email the sage?

One more thought: if the average character gets 20 rounds to breathe underwater, wouldn't it be almost unheard of for anyone to drown, even in rough water? I mean, statistically, even if you consider that you take a -1 penalty on your check for each round you've been underwater, odds are good that eventually you'll make your check and get a fresh lung full of air.