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

[green slime]

Humans do have a natural reflex to hold their breath in water, so I would rule they have many rounds before they start drowning.

No, babies do. Humans loose this ability, after a few months. An unconscious person starts breathing.

 

[FCWesel]

From Wikipedia, source of all truth - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drowning#The_body.27s_reaction_to_submersion

Not that I necessarily trust my life to Wikipedia, but if it's good enough for me to research Sumerian deities for my d20 Modern game, it's good enough for me to base my drowning rules on.

Excellent find Ranger. Thanks for the post.

 

[RangerWickett]

I'm more interested in hearing about this d20 modern Sumerian thing though.

If I ever get time to get back to it, I have a d20 Modern storyhour. Many months from where I ended writing it, the party ended up on a stormy British isle, St. Cuthbert Island (no, I'm not kidding; google it), where they faced Namtar, messenger of the Sumerian god Nergal. Namtar oddly enough had stats identical to a Sorrowsworn Demon from MM3, and he did a nice job of screwing with the party's heads from the cover of the storm, slowly driving them mad as he roused an army of drowned sailors to assail them in a feeble old light house.

 

[Xanterith]

Cage goes in the water, you go in the water. Shark's in the water. Our shark.

Farewell and adieu to you, fair Spanish ladies. Farewell and adieu, you ladies of Spain. For we've received orders for to sail back to Boston. And so nevermore shall we see you again.

 

[pallandrome]

Does it suck for the PC to die in a such a fashion? Yes, but it's not like it's the DMs fault either.

Not true. As DM, anything that happens is your fault, as you are he who controls the world. One should never let the rules get in the way of a good game. Now, that being said, if you are running a dark game, where a character choking to death in six inches of water is appropo, then fine, more power to you. But if you are running a highpowered campaign of heroic fantasy, and a character dies because of a stupid roll for a stupid reason, and no one is happy about it, then you should probably find a way to save the PC, rules be damned.