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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ruin Explorer" data-source="post: 7964880" data-attributes="member: 18">The trouble is, if you do this and the result is anything more than the NPC making a single basic attack (maybe at advantage), you really open a massive can of worms, because it means the PCs can do the same, and also opens up all sorts of other questions. The most the NPC can actually do under the rules is ready an action, to, I guess, use his reaction to what, take a single basic attack (some DMs would allow you to ready the entire attack action but I've seen some dispute over this), and I'm not even sure "if any of the PCs take an action or use any of their move" is entirely legal condition to ready against. Will a single basic attack (or even the attack action?) kill the hostage? I guess if they have very low HP or are a downed PC it might (stress on the might). But if you let it be anything more than that, then it's literal matter of time before it happens in reverse, or a player wants a detailed explanation of why he can't assassinate guards or the like.Have you ever actually done this? Healing Word has a 60' range and the PC can likely move 30' before casting it. You're not going to be dragging a PC 90' in a single round. An exceptionally fast (and pretty strong) monster, where the PC was downed the round before, might dubiously be able to pick up the PC and Move + Dash action away with them, but that's not dragging. Otherwise Healing Word makes this kind of a joke/trap.I feel like this is the sort of thing that would work well on people new to the game and/or who don't understand the mechanics, but against your average party, which probably includes a veteran or three, or at least some rules-experts, no chance.</blockquote>

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