rule question - until end of encounter effects but go unconscious

[fba827]

I feel like I've seen rules on this before, (heck, I feel like I've USED the rules on this before). Yet it's been a while and now for some reason I can't find the reference and I'm feeling both silly and blind.

1) If a PC uses a power that buffs himself until the end of the encounter, but then falls unconscious (not dead, but just unconscious), does the power end when he falls below 0 hp?

2) If yes to the above, when the PC regains consciousness a round or two later (due to healing word from an ally or what not), does the effect turn back on for the remainder of that same encounter?

3) Does the answer to any of that change if it was a spell someone else cast on the PC (such as a buff/debuff on attack/defenses) - would it turn off when the target is unconscious, and how about turn back on when regaining consciousness?


If you need an example to answer this, let's take Armor of Agathys (warlock daily power from PHB1) -- but it could just as easily be any other of a dozen daily powers that have an effect that last until the end of the encounter (such as the barbarian thing that gives you bonus damage until the end of the encounter)

You have a warlock that uses armor of Agathys, thus he is radiating cold damage. He then falls unconscious (is he still radiating cold damage?) and then another PC uses inspiring word bringing the warlock back to positive hit points... if the cold radiation had stopped, did it restart once back to being awake?


Anyway, I'm probably being blind. No need to quote entire blocks of text or anything.. just, can someone point me to the right page/section of the relevant rules?


Thanks in advance.

(I may end up house ruling it differently, but i just want to confirm the "raw" before i make such a decision)

 

[Mengu]

Depends on what "buff" you are talking about.

Effects on a character do not end when the character is unconscious (much like ongoing damage, and conditions such as dazed, immobilized, etc). So Armor of Agathys would remain functional when a warlock is unconscious.

Stances end when a character is unconscious, because it specifically says so (Duration: A stance lasts until the character assumes another stance or until the character falls unconscious or dies). So for instance Spitting Cobra Stance would end when a ranger is unconscious.

 

[fba827]

Ah ha! Thanks! That is how I remembered it. It was just the exception to stances that my brain was lumping in with the general rule that was making me second guess myself.

Much appreciated.

 

[Riastlin]

One other thing to keep in mind, if a character falls unconscious his marks that he has placed on other creatures go away. So if the swordmage marks the beholder and then falls unconscious, the beholder is no longer marked.

Otherwise, yes, generally end of encounter effects remain. Amusingly, some feats also provide benefits that assume you are acting in some way, but do not require consciousness. Most notably, Shield the Fallen. I've always fluffed this as a dwarf helping to protect his wounded/vulnerable comrades, yet if the dwarf falls unconscious, per RAW, he still offers up the bonus (though personally, my ruling would be that it goes away -- even on my dwarven runepriest who has this feat).

Just my 2 coppers.

 

[TheClone]

I think it's noted on all the power cards when a power goes away if the character is falling unconscious. So if nothing is written down by RAW the effect is still up, afaik.