Rage stops when unconscious?

[KarinsDad]

Unconciousness does not state that? What is the 'that' of which you speak? That you can not be frenzied or screaming while unconcious? I think I'd be safe in saying that frenzied screaming is impossible while unconcious, regardless of whether it is stated in the book specifically.

If he is paralyzed, a raging Barbarian is not screaming either.

Does this mean that paralyzation prevents the Barbarian from raging?

 

[jgsugden]

If he is paralyzed, a raging Barbarian is not screaming either.

Does this mean that paralyzation prevents the Barbarian from raging?

I said I was finished with this topic, but I'll let you draw me in one last time. After this, though, I am done.

Screaming is an adjective used to describe the frenzy. The frenzied state is the key. Would he still be frenzied? Yes. That would be enough for me.

As for the dreaming dog or unconcious athlete arguments: People knocked unconcious do not dream in that state. Athletes may cry or twitch while knocked out, but those art involuntary bodily responses. Further, except in very rare circumstances, a knocked out football player has nothing to do with someone that collapses on the floor due to numerous cuts and abrassions. Being knocked out on a football field is more akin to being knocked down via subdual damage than being taken down by wounds.

As I've said, I'm done with this argument. You're not even having the same discussion that I am. Your arguments are aimed at proving the argument is not as solid as your side of the argument. They do nothing to undercut the possibility of my argument. By stating the foundation of the argument, I've proven that it can exist. That is all that is necessary for my point to be true. Someone *can* adopt that argument and have *a* basis for their argument that is not *completely* impossible to be adopted without *specifically* violating the rules.

I'm done. Good luck.

 

[KarinsDad]

By stating the foundation of the argument, I've proven that it can exist. That is all that is necessary for my point to be true.

HAHAHAHAHA

I've stated it, therefore it can be true.

In your game, sure.

In the rules, no.

 

[drnuncheon]

I'm kind of curious where the 'rage is an emotion' idea came from, especially as there's an implied 'only' in there (rage is only an emotion) which seems to be the basis of the 'rage stops when you go unconscious' argument.

Rage as a class ability is more than just an emotion, though - it's something with a defined physical effect. If it were emotion only, then any class should be able to rage. After all, clerics and fighters and rogues can get angry too, can't they? But since rage is only available to the barbarian (and various prestige classes), the 'just an emotion' argument falls apart. There's got to be something more to produce those physical effects.

As someone else has pointed out, the physical effects of adrenaline seem very similar to those of rage. The effects of adrenaline do not instantaneously 'shut off' when one goes unconscious. Of course, this is bringing real-world logic into a fantasy game, so it shouldn't be seen as a definitive argument - just one that provides a justification for what is really quite clear in the rules.

It is definitely a conscious decision to enter rage, but the language of the rules implies that it is equally a conscious decision to end it early - in other words, the barbarian has to 'get control of himself' or will himself out of the rage. Obviously if he is unconscious, he cannot do this, and the physical effects of the rage will continue until it burns itself out (ends the duration normally).

To paraphrase: the benefit of this ruling is that it makes more sense, and it does not instantly kill barbarians above level 5 who go below 0 hit points.



J

 

[Hypersmurf]

After all, clerics and fighters and rogues can get angry too, can't they?

I'm a Pantera's box you do not wanna open! I am a ticking time bomb of fury! Don't mess with the volcano my man, 'cause I will go Pompeii on your... butt.

-Hyp.

 

[JoeBlank]

If an unconscious state ends rage, wizards should use sleep and similar spells on barbarians.

Not sure if that matters in the debate one way or another, but it is an interesting effect.

 

[Saeviomagy]

I'm a Pantera's box you do not wanna open!

Erm... I'm sure that Pantera are angry and all that, but I think perhaps this is meant to be Pandora's box, which contained all the evil that is currently in the world, as well as a little bit of hope.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Erm... I'm sure that Pantera are angry and all that, but I think perhaps this is meant to be Pandora...

Please don't correct me; it sickens me.

-Hyp.

Edit - you know, just in case you take that the wrong way, I'll explain...

Both the "Pantera's Box" line and the response to having Pantera corrected to Pandora are lines from Mr Furious in Mystery Men, whose power is the ability to get really, really angry. It doesn't translate to improved combat prowess, however. So it seemed like an appropriate note to respond to a suggestion of Clerics getting really angry in combat.

 

[Ahrimon]

I think a lot of it comes down to how you describe a barbarians rage in your campaign. To each his own. Personally I don't look at rage as a state of mind. If you look at it that way, then I can see the arguments for it ending when your unconsious. I see a barbarian entering thier rage as a massive adrenalin (sp?) surge. In that case, consious or not, it's still pumping through your system keeping you alive. When it runs out your body goes into shock and you die.

It's all in how you look at it.

Ahrimon

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Hey, I'll agree that the most literal reading of the rules is that he does not stop Raging. But this interpretation is advantageous in that it makes more sense.

Personally, I have a house rule: If a barbarian falls unconcious, he stops Raging. If this would kill him, instead he drops to -9 HP.

I can live with that one, it does aleviate of the 'barbarian who falls apart like confetti when he goes unconcious' problem, while still leaving it a serious worry - will Bob the Generic Cleric reach Thorax the Barbarian with his Cure Light Wounds in time? Tune in tomorrow...

I honestly hadn't thought about the level 5 cap.... that does in fact make my interpretation grossly unfair. (The issue simply hasn't come up in my game, the cleric stands right behind the barbarian keeping him going, plus he has a feat that allows him to remain concious until -10.)

But I still don't buy the unconcious raging barbarian schtick. Perhaps allowing the barbarian a class ability of not dying quite as easily - allowing him to go to a number of hit points below 0 equal to 10 + the characters barbarian level, lasting the same amount of time as the remaining time on his rage. But when brought back to conciousness the rage is still over.

The Auld Grump