DND_Reborn
The High Aldwin
Please do! I've used Exhaution in place of death saves in the past as well, and have thought about adding onto the system in ways like it sounds you did. So I'd love to see your full write-up on your additions! Thanks!
I couldn't find it, but here it is:
Death Saves are not used.
Endurance. You have a measure of endurance equal to your Constitution modifier. Your endurance grants you the ability to ignore levels of endurance, in essence they are "free". Once your endurance is exceeded, you suffer the effects of further levels of exhaustion normally.
This means you can suffer a total number of levels of exhaustion equal to 5 + your Constitution modifier before dying, but one more and you die.
Ex. You have a CON 14 and two levels of Endurance. You can suffer two levels of exhaustion for "free" without any effects.
When you go to 0 HP, the following occurs:
1. You gain one level of exhaustion.
2. You must make a Constitution saving throw to remain conscious. The DC is equal to half the damage of the attack or 10, whichever is higher (as with the normal Concentration check mechanic).
If you remain conscious while at 0 HP, the following occurs:
1. You can only take an action, move, or a bonus action on your turn. You cannot take reactions.
2. If you are concentrating on a spell, you must make a concentration check (DC 10) to maintain concentration on the spell at the start of each of your turns (while you are at 0 HP, that is).
3. Each time you take damage, you must make another Concentration check to remain conscious.
While at 0 HP, the following occurs:
1. If you take any damage, you gain another level of exhaustion.
2. If the damage was from a critical hit, you gain two levels of exhaustion instead.
Gaining HP so you are no longer at 0 HP prevents you from further levels of exhaustion (unless you go to 0 HP again, of course) and allows you to act normally. You are still subject to any of the effects of exhaustion that have exceeded your endurance. Recovering exhaustion is done through the normal means: a long rest or by magical means.
Note. If you have a Constitution 8, with a -1 modifier, means if you take a level of exhaustion you immediately jump to the second level effects (half speed as well as disadvantage on ability checks). This also means that 5 levels of exhaustion, not 6, will kill you.
That's pretty much it. FWIW, we still use Endurance as part of our Frostmaiden game, which with the effects of the cold weather giving exhaustion as well, it has worked well.
Last edited: