Something scary we realized

[James McMurray]

If you're currently suffering from the -1 penalty from Raise Dead and fall unconscious from damage you can't get lucky and stand yourself up unless you have a bonus to saving throws. You need a 20 or higher to revive yourself, and the -1 to saves prevents that. You slip closer to death 50% of the time, and have no change at all after that.

 

[Incenjucar]

A natural 20 is a natural 20.

 

[James McMurray]

It doesn't say a natural 20. It says "20 or higher."

 

[Incenjucar]

If you're worried, again, natural 20 is a natural 20.

Otherwise being penalized for being raised from the dead is fine.

You should try to not get into near-death situations after being recently dead.

 

[generalhenry]

James is right, you can't revive your self (without something like the human feat)

However it's not a big deal. A heal check is much more likely than a self revival.

 

[Lucas Blackstone]

A natural 20 doesn't do anything for death saving throws though. It's if the result is 20 or higher. So a die roll of 20, with the only modifiers being negative, ends up not helping.

 

[James McMurray]

I'm not worried, and natural vs. modified doesn't matter for the save vs. dying. I don't see any need to house rule it, I just wanted to point it out.

You're right that you should try to avoid deadly situations while suffering from the -1, but it's kinda difficult. You have to fight at least 6 times before it goes away, and three of those will be your second fight in a row, restricting your resources. If you hang back in the battles and try to ride them to a milestone your lack of support is likely to get others killed if the fights would otherwise just be a challenge.

 

[Kesh]

This is why there are powers which give you a bonus to "your next saving throw." I assume your friends are around to help with such powers...

 

[James McMurray]

Yeah, leaders and paladins are good for that stuff. And anyone can stabilize you or give you a second wind fairly easily.

The problem our rogue had was that he and I had fallen out of the main battle via a pit-covered chute. At the bottom was a thin ledge, a clam river, and an otyugh. He got knocked unconscious underwater and failed two of his save there. He was also one round from drowning. He'd almost drowned earlier in the adventure and was out of healing surges so I couldn't give him a second wind and let him start swimming for himself. I managed to kill the otyugh and drag him to shore just in time for him to fail his third check.

The good news is we had the components for another raise dead for him. The bad news is we had to use up the 5,000gp worth of components for another raise dead for him.