What happens if a character stabilizes at -5hp, but they are in the water???

[Pendragon67]

What happens if a character stabilizes at -5, but they are in the water???

I believe they would then have to roll for drowning. but I am not sure. If they are unconscious, how can they "roll" for drowning? Does the water wake them up? they are still at -5 hp... I am not clear on the rules for this.

Thanks :O)

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

They "roll" for drowning the same way anyone does. An unconscious person can turn their face from the water as they struggle to breathe.

 

[Grymar]

I'd let them roll, maybe give them a strength penalty though. But let them roll, they are already suffering enough.

 

[el-remmen]

This is a Rules question.

I'll move it to the appropriate forum.

 

[Crothian]

I'd give them a roll. There is no facing in the game so they could get lucky and be floating on their back.

 

[lukelightning]

I'd give them a roll. There is no facing in the game so they could get lucky and be floating on their back.

Floating? I doubt most adventurers are bouyant enough to float, given all the gear they carry.

 

[GwydapLlew]

Glug...glug...glu-

I'd allow them to be make the check as if they had run out of air. IIRC, it starts at DC 10 and goes up by one each round. Eventually they fail. Three rounds later, they are dead.

 

[Artoomis]

I'd try to be generous.

Any character can hold her breath for a number of rounds equal to twice her Constitution score. After this period of time, the character must make a DC 10 Constitution check every round in order to continue holding her breath. Each round, the DC increases by 1. See also: Swim skill description.

When the character finally fails her Constitution check, she begins to drown. In the first round, she falls unconscious (0 hp). In the following round, she drops to -1 hit points and is dying. In the third round, she drowns.

If the possibility exists for floating (obviously not the case with heavy metal armor), I'd give a DC Con check each round, DC increase by 1 each round, and then follow the rest of the drowing rules. That's overly generous, maybe, but what the heck? Maybe they are floting face up for a while.

If clearly underwater (heavy armor, etc.), I'd start as if he/she had just failed the Con check and were already unconscious (because he/she is). Meaning in the next round he or she goes from -5 to -6 and the round following will drown. Not much time for a rescue, that's for sure. Anything else would really strain my suspension of belief and make it seem as if I was coddling the PCs.

 

[Crothian]

Floating? I doubt most adventurers are bouyant enough to float, given all the gear they carry.

WEll, then that would change things.

 

[Olaf the Stout]

Get 4d6 and roll them. Add the highest 3 die up and write the number down. Repeat 6 times.

Really that is what you should do because unless someone else rescues you very quickly the is a very high chance that you'll drown. You other hope may be to pray for DM fiat intervention. I hear that particular god likes cookies!

Olaf the Stout