Rules for death and dying

[Rafael Ceurdepyr]

What rules do you use for death and dying? We always use the standard rules, but as a DM, I want it to be more difficult to kill PCs. I'd like to hear from those of you who have used other existing methods besides being dead at -10 hp, whether it's published or house-ruled (I think there's an alternative in Unearthed Arcana?). My players will thank you.

 

[the Jester]

Instead of dead at -10, dead at a negative hp total equal to your con score + your level. So a 3rd-level, con 13 character dies at -16.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Instead of dead at -10, dead at a negative hp total equal to your con score + your level. So a 3rd-level, con 13 character dies at -16.

We do this, but with the added thing of 'disabled range' is from 0 to -level, giving an increasing range in which you can heroically do 1 action and lose a hit point.

So in the above example, the 3rd level, con 13 character would be disabled at 0 to -3 and dying from -4 to -15, dead at -16.

We've been using this rule for several years now, and it works *really* well

 

[Rafael Ceurdepyr]

These look like great suggestions, thanks! I think we may adopt your version, Plane Sailing. Any other suggestions out there? (I probably should've asked this in the general thread.)

 

[Edheldur]

I use the "Death and dying" rule from Unearthed Arcana. You can find it HERE.

 

[James McMurray]

We've used negative your level in the past, but only after the characters had passed into epic levels.

 

[Destil]

I use dead at -10-level, myself (IE -14 at 4th level). Con is already the 2nd most important ability score for most people, no need to make it better.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Make stabilising a fort save instead of a flat 10% chance.

 

[SteveC]

We do this, but with the added thing of 'disabled range' is from 0 to -level, giving an increasing range in which you can heroically do 1 action and lose a hit point.

So in the above example, the 3rd level, con 13 character would be disabled at 0 to -3 and dying from -4 to -15, dead at -16.

We've been using this rule for several years now, and it works *really* well

Ditto on this...it has worked extremely well for my group, and they appreciate the extra leeway.

--Steve

 

[shilsen]

I used hero points and have now switched to swashbuckling cards, both available at 3 per session. I let players use up 3 (originally) or 2 (now) to turn a killing blow/effect into one that drops them to -9 hp and stabilized.