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Message: <blockquote data-quote="BookTenTiger" data-source="post: 8157364" data-attributes="member: 6685541">This is a follow-up of another thread I posted a few weeks ago. I have "borrowed" some ideas from the posters in those threads; thank you so much to everyone who participated!I want to introduce a House Rule into my 5e game that will change the effects of falling to 0 Hit Points. In reality, this is two House Rules: Vitality Points and the Staggered Condition.I would love help with this House Rule! If you have ideas for ways it could be tweaked, balanced, or changed, please let me know. Please do not post if you just want to say "I would never do this at my table."Purpose: The purpose of the Vitality Points & Staggered Condition House Rule is to change the way gameplay occurs at 0 Hit Points. I do not like the image of characters falling unconscious and then popping back up during combat, and I do not like the way players of unconscious characters have to sit around while everyone else plays. Through these house rules, I am hoping to keep combat engaging even at 0 Hit Points, as well as create long-term consequences for falling to 0 Hit Points. Finally, I want to encourage downtime between adventures.<s>Vitality Points</s> (UPDATE: See Wound Points below, Post #16).A character's Vitality Points represent their life force. Whereas Hit Points may still represent a character's ability to dodge, block, or avoid blows, Vitality Points represent just how many hits a character can take before dying. A character with Vitality Points is still alive; a character with 0 Vitality Points and 0 Hit Points is dead.Starting VP: A new character starts with a number of Vitality Points equal to their level + Constitution Score. For example, a 1st Level Character with 11 Constitution will have 12 VP. A brand new 10th-Level Character with 18 Constitution will have 28 VP.Gaining New VP: Each time a character gains a level, they gain 1 Vitality Point. If a character's Constitution Score is improved, such as through a Ability Score Increase or a magic item or effect, they gain the appropriate number of Vitality Points.Losing VP: A character can lose Vitality Points in a number of ways:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">When a character receives a critical hit, they lose 1 VP.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">When a character is reduced to 0 Hit Points, they are staggered (see below), which includes immediately losing 1 VP.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">When a staggered character takes damage, they lose 1 VP. When a staggered character takes a critical hit, they lose 2 VP.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">When a character's Constitution Score is reduced, they lose the appropriate amount of VP.</li> </ul>0 VP: A character with 0 Vitality Points who is reduced to 0 Hit Points immediately dies.Regaining VP: Characters regain Vitality Points during downtime. For each week of downtime, a character regains 1 Vitality Point. However, a character can never regain Vitality Points that would increase their Vitality Points to be greater than their Constitution Score. For example, an 8th-Level Character with 14 Constitution starts with 22 VP. If they are reduced to 10 VP, they may gain 4 VP during 4 weeks of downtime. They cannot exceed 14 VP (their Constitution Score) until they gain a new level.Enemy VP: Enemy creatures have Vitality Points equal to their Hit Dice. Enemies reduced to 0 Hit Points are still defeated, no matter their number of remaining Vitality Points. However, Vitality Points could be used by DM's for enemies that return for multiple combats or storylines.Staggered ConditionThe staggered condition occurs when a character is reduced to 0 Hit Points. Rather than becoming unconscious, a character is instead staggered. A staggered character is on death's door, stumbling in and out of consciousness, gasping for breath, yet still standing and ready to defend their allies!Staggered Effects: A character who is staggered suffers the following effects:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The character immediately loses 1 Vitality Point.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Any time the character takes damage, they lose 1 Vitality Point.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Critical hits to a staggered character cause the character to lose 2 Vitality Points.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Successful melee attacks against the character are treated as critical hits.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A staggered character may take an action, a bonus action, or move on their turn, but may only do one of these. A staggered character may still take reactions.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A staggered character cannot maintain Concentration on spells; they immediately lose Concentration on any spells already cast, and any new spells cast that require Concentration stop having effect at the end of the character's turn.</li> </ul>The staggered condition ends as soon as a character regains 1 Hit Point or is stabilized.Stabilizing a Staggered Character: When a staggered character is stabilized, the following occurs:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The character falls unconscious.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The character retains 0 hit points, but is no longer subject to the staggered condition.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">When the unconscious character takes damage, they lose Vitality Points just as described in the staggered condition.</li> </ul>Okay, so there are my ideas. What do you think? Do you think these House Rules would help with my goals of keeping characters and players engaged in combat, even at 0 HP, but introduce long-term consequences for reaching 0 HP?Thanks for any helpful ideas and feedback!</blockquote>

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