Second Wind vs. Healing Surges

[daddystabz]

Is Second Wind the same thing as a Healing Surge? I don't think I've seen Second Wind discussed as a separate thing yet in my reading of the PHB.

 

[Boarstorm]

Second Wind is an action that uses a healing surge, so yes they are different.

 

[Tony Vargas]

Second Wind is a way all characters have of using a Healing Surge. It's like a universal encounter power. It used up a healing surge, getting you back the corresponding hps, and it also works like Total Defense, boost all your defenses by two. So, it's backing off slightly, going on the defensive, and catching your breath.

 

[Kordeth]

No, they are not the same thing. A healing surge is a resource you can spend in certain situations that gives you back some of your hit points. Second wind (which is defined on p. 291 of the PHB) is an action you can take that allows you to spend a healing surge once per encounter. In effect, it's an encounter power that all PCs get for free that allows them to spend 1 healing surge and gain a +2 to all Defenses until the start of their next turn.

 

[ZombieRoboNinja]

Look in the Combat chapter for info on Second Wind. Basically, it's a per-encounter power that lets you use a healing surge in combat. Normally, you can only use a healing surge out of combat, or when someone uses a power that lets you do so (like some cleric powers). (PHB page 291)

 

[daddystabz]

I thought this all might be the case. I just started the combat chapter...hehe.

Thanks all!

 

[daddystabz]

A little bit more confusion......on pg 276 under "Attack Results" in the PHB it states that automatic hit: when you roll a natural 20 on the d20 you score an automatic hit. However, it goes on to say on pg 278 that a Critical Hit is when you roll a natural 20 on the d20 and a 20 with whatever bonuses and stuff are applied is enough to hit the target's defense, then you would score a crit. This seems to be a contradiction.

If a natural 20 is an automatic hit then why would I need to check to see if rolling a 20 would be a hit against the target's defense in order to see if I crit?

You know what I mean? What am I missing here?

What I think it is saying is when you roll a natural 20 you see if that 20 would be enough to hit the rarget monster as a normal attack. If so, you score a crit and deal max dmg. If it would not have been enough for a hit, you still score an automatic hit, but just deal normal attack dmg and not max dmg.

Is this the right interpretation?

Thanks!

 

[ForbidenMaster]

A little bit more confusion......on pg 276 under "Attack Results" in the PHB it states that automatic hit: when you roll a natural 20 on the d20 you score an automatic hit. However, it goes on to say on pg 278 that a Critical Hit is when you roll a natural 20 on the d20 and a 20 with whatever bonuses and stuff are applied is enough to hit the target's defense, then you would score a crit. This seems to be a contradiction.

If a natural 20 is an automatic hit then why would I need to check to see if rolling a 20 would be a hit against the target's defense in order to see if I crit?

You know what I mean? What am I missing here?

Lets say you roll a natural 20, but your total to hit is only 25, and you are attacking a monster with a 30 AC, the attack hits, but its not a crit.