Take the Narrative Wounding Challenge.

[Herremann the Wise]

I can't recall a time when it happened.

Neither can I with our group; although I did read on these boards about a lone surviving barbarian that survived for several days in the negatives after raging that sounded like the most improbable series of die rolls. It sounded like the most amazing story of survival and is the primary reason why those rules are stuck in my head. In practice with 3e, I have never seen a PC go from negatives to fully healed naturally either. A paladin, cleric, druid or wand always seemed to stop that endeavour. In it's way, such abundant magical healing provides its own myriad of long-term narrative issues for 3e play.

Best Regards
Herremann the Wise

 

[JamesonCourage]

I've been playing D&D since the late 70s, and I can't recall a time a player has been left alone without access to any allies and/or healing for an extended period of time (falling down a pit, getting kidnapped, etc, can happen, but those don't involve extended periods, and kidnappers usually want their hostage alive). Sure, back in 1E days, somebody would have to spend a week in bed recovering from being dropped below 0, but the party cleric would be there to heal them when possible. In theory, a PC on their own without access to allies and/or healing can happen, but in practice, I can't recall a time when it happened.

It's not only when someone is separated from the group, though. That applies, but it's an issue of long natural healing vs. it not being an option at all. I could probably think up 8-10 times in the past year where slow natural healing has affected my party in a semi-significant or significant way. Our mileage has varied. And, that's why it's important to me. As always, play what you like

In regards to the second part, to me, you can just as easily say:
3E has healing which can change the narrative
4E has healing which can change the narrative

And, 1E/2E have healing that can change the narrative, but not quite as dramatically as newer editions.

You can word it that way, but it's still missing the point I've been trying (in vain?) to make. This is true:
[quote3E has healing which can change the narrative
4E has healing which can change the narrative[/quote]
But so it this:

3E allows for fatal, serious and flesh wounds.
4E allows for fatal or flesh wounds.

They're both true. Both editions have healing that can change the narrative. And, both editions have mechanics that support natural healing. However, pre-4e is more expansive than 4e in regards to possible narratives, as the same narratives are possible, plus another option, which Herremann and I have been trying to point out. That's the difference. As always, play what you like

 

[NewJeffCT]

I think there has to be a better way of defining "changing the narrative."

Magical healing post injury, which is what you have in 1e-3e, changes the narrative by adding to the narrative that's already in place. It's not really changing the narrative by replacing what was already there.

But people have been saying that 4e healing surges do change the narrative already put in place or at least make it hard to define a narrative until the potential for a healing surge has been resolved.

That may point to an answer of how 4e plays in a different groove than its predecessors. Don't over-narrate too early in 4e.

I will agree that post combat healing is easier in 4E. However, in combat healing seems pretty much the same, it's just called healing surges instead of Cure Light Wounds, Drinking a Healing Potion, Laying on the Hands, or using a wand of Cure Light Wounds.

 

[Hussar]

Still not seeing more examples.

 

[JamesonCourage]

Still not seeing more examples.

Ha. Okay, Hussar, I'll leave you to your question. I'm not sure who you want the answer from, since it's not me apparently, but good luck

(Note: I'll probably respond to others if I think it's relevant, so I'm giving notice. As always, play what you like )

 

[Pentius]

Still not seeing more examples.

The troll grabs you and shakes you by the shoulder briefly before slamming you into the ground on your back with a loud thud. You lose consciousness.

 

[Hussar]

I'd buy that one Pentius. No problems there.

 

[Summer-Knight925]

You raise your war hammer high into the air, and with all your might you send it crashing down on the head of the fallen dragon, blood and bone shatter and crack as the beast is felled, the final strike crushes the last of it's life from it and the treasure is yours.....or is it? As you recover from the blow you hear the scurrying of feat, you turn to face the new attacker and what do you see? An ogre larger than some hill giants, stronger and angrier than anything you've ever seen.
"You hurt fluffy! Me love fluffy!" it howls in anger as it grabs you by the chest.
Its grip is strong and you feel some of your ribs crack as it squeezes, then, it releases you with full force into the floor.
*one player yells 'happy birthday to the ground!'*
As you lay broken and battered, the ogre stomps on your chest one time before wading into your allies.


How's that? He's not dead, but obviously dying, however he could come back in a few days if he drank enough milk growing up.

 

[Aberzanzorax]

Still not seeing more examples.

I provided one...

I chose a situation that I thought fell into the narrative space of 3e/pathfinder, but not 4e/healing surges.


I'm curious if others agree with my example, or would quibble with it and how it might fit into the narrative space of, say, a healing surge from a nonmagical source.

 

[DEFCON 1]

Easy peasy.

"The troll rears back and whallops the fighter... who falls to the ground stunned and in pain... staring up into the roof of the cavern unable to take any action as the fight continues around him.

Eighteen seconds later, the fighter gets trod upon by the troll and dies from the killing blow."

There ya go. Fighter stunned... unable to act for less than thirty seconds as he's tired, worn out, perhaps a bit loopy. But after a few minutes he'll regain his bearings and gets back up to continue the adventure... except that the troll killed him.

The "killing blow"? Failed third save and the PC's dead... but HOW it's narrated doesn't matter. So during the fight the troll found a way to deliver a killing blow to the fighter. And since D&D combat is not representational of everything that happens in combat but merely highlighted actions (which is why things like facing and such are not used in the game and its assumed the everyone is constantly moving around)... there's no complaining that the troll didn't use an "action" to deliver the killing blow. The killing blow is assumed to have been done somehow upon the failed third save.