D&D General Let's Talk About How to "Fix" D&D

[Rabulias]

So, with CON 14, when you are healed from 0 HP, your recovery takes 4 rounds:

Round 1: Half HP (and all lower penalties as well)
Round 2: Disadvantage on attacks and saves
Round 3: Speed half
Round 4: Disadvantage on ability checks
Round 5: fully recovered

Interesting. So a character with CON 18 would be:
Round 1: Speed halved and disadvantage on ability checks
Round 2: Disadvantage on ability checks (Speed now normal)
Round 3: Fully recovered

How about a CON 8 or 9 character? They spend an extra round at Speed 0 (harsher)? Or an additional round with disadvantage on ability checks (kinder)?

 

[DND_Reborn]

Interesting. So a character with CON 18 would be:
Round 1: Speed halved and disadvantage on ability checks
Round 2: Disadvantage on ability checks (Speed now normal)
Round 3: Fully recovered

How about a CON 8 or 9 character? They spend an extra round at Speed 0 (harsher)? Or an additional round with disadvantage on ability checks (kinder)?

Correct, and with CON 20 you would only have 1 round with disadvantage on ability checks. It represents how much a high CON person can recover from trauma (0 HP) and act effectively again. Think of someone who is punched out, it takes a few seconds to recover, and longer for people who are more average CON. You could also start at 5, so a CON 20 would not have any penalty whatsoever.

Yes, an CON penalty keeps you at 5 temp exhaustion for more rounds. It is harsh, but hey your physical health/make-up/whatever is below average. IME, PCs typically have CON 12-14, and often higher, so CON 8-9 is pretty rare.