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<blockquote data-quote="JohnSnow" data-source="post: 4045375" data-attributes="member: 32164">Well, to be fair, we've seen precisely one monster (the Pit Fiend), and we don't really know how the rules for critical hits work.It's possible that, in grand heroic tradition, most heroes can't actually be killed instantly by a blow from a single monster. Maybe the Pit Fiend just isn't the best at dealing massive amounts of damage on a single hit. Ideally, since dropping someone to their full negative hit point total is basically a &quot;death attack,&quot; it should probably be set up so that a critical hit from some monsters can do it, but a regular hit probably can't. In other words, &quot;instant death,&quot; while it should occasionally be possible, shouldn't be possible very often.Basically, when a designer says that some 15th-level monsters can deal around 60 hit points on a critical hit (which Andy did), I say we believe him, rather than second guessing based on our limited data points.18 seconds is a long time?*Jozan and Lidda have already acted this round*Tordek: &quot;Gurk.&quot;DM: &quot;Tordek slumps to the floor, seriously injured.&quot; &quot;Tordek, give me a saving throw.&quot; {miss}Lidda: &quot;Crap! Jozan, Tordek just went down!&quot;Jozan: &quot;Hold on Tordek, I'm coming.&quot; {turns to DM} &quot;I make a fighting withdrawal.&quot;&lt;Lidda does something&gt;DM: &quot;Tordek, give me another save.&quot; {miss}Jozan: &quot;I make my way across the battlefield until I can reach Tordek and tend his wounds.&quot;DM: &quot;Okay, it's going to take your full action to reach Tordek.&quot;&lt;Lidda does something&gt;DM: Tordek, give me another save.&quot;Now, our little sample scenario diverges:CASE A:{Tordek rolls between 11-19}DM: &quot;Okay Tordek, you're still alive.&quot;&lt;Lidda does something&gt;Jozan: &quot;As I reach Tordek, I pray to Pelor to 'heal' his wounds.&quot;DM: &quot;Okay, Pelor's radiance emanates from your fingers, sealing Tordek's wound. Good thing too, that was a near thing. The dwarf's eyes flutter open.&quot;CASE B:{Tordek rolls between 1-10, his third and final failed save}DM: &quot;Oooo....not good.&quot; {passes Tordek's player a note.}&lt;Lidda does something&gt;Jozan: &quot;As I reach Tordek, I pray to Pelor to heal his wounds.&quot;DM: &quot;Pelor's radiance emanates from your fingers, but despite your best efforts, his wounds look too severe. A last gasp slips from Tordek's mouth...Tordek (weakly): &quot;Avenge meeee....&quot; {Tordek dies}Case C:{Tordek rolls a 20, indicating recovery}&lt;Lidda does something&gt;Jozan: &quot;As I reach Tordek, I pray to Pelor to heal his wounds.&quot;DM: &quot;As you begin your prayer, the dwarf sits up, wiping blood from his eyes.&quot;Tordek (spitting blood through his teeth): &quot;It takes more than that to kill a dwarf! Where's me axe?&quot;A is certainly well within the realm of possibility. Basically, three rounds is short enough that the PCs don't dare dawdle, but that their comrade isn't screwed if the healer's engaged in melee and across the room when someone gets dropped.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="JohnSnow, post: 4045375, member: 32164"] Well, to be fair, we've seen precisely one monster (the Pit Fiend), and we don't really know how the rules for critical hits work. It's possible that, in grand heroic tradition, most heroes can't actually be killed instantly by a blow from a single monster. Maybe the Pit Fiend just isn't the best at dealing massive amounts of damage on a single hit. Ideally, since dropping someone to their full negative hit point total is basically a "death attack," it should probably be set up so that a critical hit from [i]some monsters[/i] can do it, but a regular hit probably can't. In other words, "instant death," while it should occasionally be possible, shouldn't be possible very often. Basically, when a designer says that some 15th-level monsters can deal around 60 hit points on a critical hit (which Andy did), I say we believe him, rather than second guessing based on our limited data points. 18 seconds is a long time? *Jozan and Lidda have already acted this round* Tordek: "Gurk." DM: "Tordek slumps to the floor, seriously injured." "Tordek, give me a saving throw." {miss} Lidda: "Crap! Jozan, Tordek just went down!" Jozan: "Hold on Tordek, I'm coming." {turns to DM} "I make a fighting withdrawal." <Lidda does something> DM: "Tordek, give me another save." {miss} Jozan: "I make my way across the battlefield until I can reach Tordek and tend his wounds." DM: "Okay, it's going to take your full action to reach Tordek." <Lidda does something> DM: Tordek, give me another save." Now, our little sample scenario diverges: CASE A: {Tordek rolls between 11-19} DM: "Okay Tordek, you're still alive." <Lidda does something> Jozan: "As I reach Tordek, I pray to Pelor to 'heal' his wounds." DM: "Okay, Pelor's radiance emanates from your fingers, sealing Tordek's wound. Good thing too, that was a near thing. The dwarf's eyes flutter open." CASE B: {Tordek rolls between 1-10, his third and final failed save} DM: "Oooo....not good." {passes Tordek's player a note.} <Lidda does something> Jozan: "As I reach Tordek, I pray to Pelor to heal his wounds." DM: "Pelor's radiance emanates from your fingers, but despite your best efforts, his wounds look too severe. A last gasp slips from Tordek's mouth... Tordek (weakly): "Avenge meeee...." {Tordek dies} Case C: {Tordek rolls a 20, indicating recovery} <Lidda does something> Jozan: "As I reach Tordek, I pray to Pelor to heal his wounds." DM: "As you begin your prayer, the dwarf sits up, wiping blood from his eyes." Tordek (spitting blood through his teeth): "It takes more than that to kill a dwarf! Where's me axe?" A is certainly well within the realm of possibility. Basically, three rounds is short enough that the PCs don't dare dawdle, but that their comrade isn't screwed if the healer's engaged in melee and across the room when someone gets dropped. [/QUOTE]

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