Unconsciousness and Initiative

[LazarusLong42]

So, here's the deal: PC A, with Init 20, drops to -1 HP because of an attack on Init 16. She falls unconscious. PC B, on Init 13, heals her for 8 points.

What is PC A's Init? Is it still 20? Or does it drop to 13? And if the latter, can she act immediately after being healed? (Never mind whether that's a good idea or not).

 

[Geoff Watson]

Stays at 20.

If she can act immediately after being healed, she will have two actions in the same round.
Healing shouldn't act like a haste spell.

Geoff.

 

[jgsugden]

The rules for this are a bit unclear. In fact, I don't think the rules specifically cover this issue in any way.

Here is how I handle it:

When a PC becomes helpless, they do not lose their initiative. They maintain the same spot in initiative.

If their turn comes up again before they can act, that PC is deemed to delay until they can act again. The reason for their inability to act is irrelevant: held, paralyzed, dead, etc ... If their turn comes to act and they are unable to do so, they delay until they can act.

 

[Thanee]

We handle it like this.

Your initiative drops to right below the one's that got you back to consciousness, but you have to wait until next round, before you can act again.

Bye
Thanee

 

[KarinsDad]

We handle it like this.

Your initiative drops to right below the one's that got you back to consciousness, but you have to wait until next round, before you can act again.

This seems like the best method since it is consistent. It does not matter when you wake up, you get to act a round later. No exceptions, no strange situations where sometimes you get to act nearly a round later and other times yours is the next initiative.

 

[Seule]

If their turn comes up again before they can act, that PC is deemed to delay until they can act again. The reason for their inability to act is irrelevant: held, paralyzed, dead, etc ... If their turn comes to act and they are unable to do so, they delay until they can act.

Except that the rules for unconsciousness specifically say that you cannot take any action that modifies your initiative. If you are unconscious, you miss any actions that come up for you while unconscious. If you are healed to consciousness, you can act the next time your initiative comes up.

--Penn