BookTenTiger
He / Him
I came up with this House Rule idea the other day. What do you think of it?
Purpose: This house rule is meant to replace the Unconscious condition that occurs for characters at 0 hp. This house rule is meant to keep the players of "dying" characters involved in combat, while also introducing long-term consequences of falling to 0 hit points. Note that this rule would only apply to characters, not necessarily monsters or NPCs.
New condition: Staggered.
When a character reached 0 hit points, they are considered Staggered. A Staggered character suffers the following:
The Staggered condition ends whenever the character gains hit points. However, any levels of Exhaustion remain. The character may reduce their level of Exhaustion through Long Rests or other means, as normal.
In my mind (having not playtested this at all), this house rule would result in some of the following changes:
What do you think?
Purpose: This house rule is meant to replace the Unconscious condition that occurs for characters at 0 hp. This house rule is meant to keep the players of "dying" characters involved in combat, while also introducing long-term consequences of falling to 0 hit points. Note that this rule would only apply to characters, not necessarily monsters or NPCs.
New condition: Staggered.
When a character reached 0 hit points, they are considered Staggered. A Staggered character suffers the following:
- The character immediately takes on one level of Exhaustion.
- At the start of each of the character's turns, the character takes another level of Exhaustion.
- When the character takes damage, they suffer a level of Exhaustion. Critical hits result in two levels of Exhaustion.
- Attack rolls against the character gain advantage.
- The character has disadvantage on Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution Saving Throws.
The Staggered condition ends whenever the character gains hit points. However, any levels of Exhaustion remain. The character may reduce their level of Exhaustion through Long Rests or other means, as normal.
In my mind (having not playtested this at all), this house rule would result in some of the following changes:
- Characters at 0 hp would still be the targets of attacks.
- Characters at 0 hp would have more strategic choices to make, rather than just a death saving throw.
- Characters would still "bounce back" from 0 hit points, but gain the ongoing consequence of Exhaustion.
What do you think?