Rage, unconciousness, and -HP

[MarauderX]

I'm sure this has come up before, but I can't find the specific rules on this.

A barbarian rages, attacks for a number of rounds, takes damage down to 0 HP. At 0 HP he would still be raging, and thus still have his rage HP. Were he to stop raging would his HP would drop him to below -10, killing him instantly? I had understood that the rage HP were the first to be lost, and that if the barbarian were to be dropped to 0 or even -1 he would simply be unconscious, and not loose additional HP from the rage ending.

Can anyone point me in the right direction in the SRD?

Thanks in advance -
~MX

 

[Lasher Dragon]

Rage HPs are NOT lost first, which is what makes rage such a risky proposition in dangerous battles. At least, AFAIK... unless they changed it.

 

[Lasher Dragon]

From SRD Classes I:

Rage (Ex): A barbarian can fly into a rage a certain number of times per day. In a rage, a barbarian temporarily gains a +4 bonus to Strength, a +4 bonus to Constitution, and a +2 morale bonus on Will saves, but he takes a –2 penalty to Armor Class. The increase in Constitution increases the barbarian’s hit points by 2 points per level, but these hit points go away at the end of the rage when his Constitution score drops back to normal. (These extra hit points are not lost first the way temporary hit points are.) While raging, a barbarian cannot use any Charisma-, Dexterity-, or Intelligence-based skills (except for Balance, Escape Artist, Intimidate, and Ride), the Concentration skill, or any abilities that require patience or concentration, nor can he cast spells or activate magic items that require a command word, a spell trigger (such as a wand), or spell completion (such as a scroll) to function. He can use any feat he has except Combat Expertise, item creation feats, and metamagic feats. A fit of rage lasts for a number of rounds equal to 3 + the character’s (newly improved) Constitution modifier. A barbarian may prematurely end his rage. At the end of the rage, the barbarian loses the rage modifiers and restrictions and becomes fatigued (–2 penalty to Strength, –2 penalty to Dexterity, can’t charge or run) for the duration of the current encounter (unless he is a 17th-level barbarian, at which point this limitation no longer applies; see below).

 

[Ovistavin]

Rage (Ex): A barbarian can fly into a rage a certain number of times per day. In a rage, a barbarian temporarily gains a +4 bonus to Strength, a +4 bonus to Constitution, and a +2 morale bonus on Will saves, but he takes a –2 penalty to Armor Class. The increase in Constitution increases the barbarian’s hit points by 2 points per level, but these hit points go away at the end of the rage when his Constitution score drops back to normal. (These extra hit points are not lost first the way temporary hit points are.)...

So when the Barbarian's Con returns to normal he loses 2 hp per level and if that drops him to -10 or less he is dead.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Note, also, that going unconscious does not end your rage. It lasts until it runs out.

 

[Lasher Dragon]

Wow Patryn, that I did not know. How does that work? I've always played such that when a barbarian is knocked unconscious rage instantly goes away.

 

[Pinotage]

Note, also, that going unconscious does not end your rage. It lasts until it runs out.

Mind if I ask where this comes from? I know the Frenzied Berseker has something like this, as does the Boar, but a barbarian rage is very different from a Frenzy.

Pinotage

 

[3d6]

The rage effect lasts for its full duration, like any other effect with a duration. They don't have to say it specifically.

 

[robberbaron]

I guess that if your raging barbarian falls over and gets healed he would be even more angry when he regained consciousness.

 

[Lasher Dragon]

LOL Robber