IamTheTest
First Post
If he asks I tell him just because I think its good to give information to the DM when he asks for it. I dont mind being dead if thats what happens. I can roll up a new character pretty quickly without a problem.
When your DM asks you how many hit points you have left...
- Thread starter MerakSpielman
- Start date
Ridley's Cohort
First Post
My DM usually asks because he needs to guestimate "how dangerous and healthy" you look so he can roleplay the NPCs accordingly.
I just tell him, but none of the above.
I just tell him, but none of the above.
Thornir Alekeg
Albatross!
I voted to tell the DM, but the question is phrased like the infamous "have you stopped beating your wife yet?" The DM may not be asking in order to fudge, but just to make the description of what happens more accurate. If the blow drops you to -1 hp I might describe it differently than if it drops you to -17 hp. If I'm not sure exactly how close the character is to death I don't wish to describe a blow as almost lethal, when in fact it is a lethal blow.
BiggusGeekus
That's Latin for "cool"
I used to fudge. Now I try to design the encounters better.
It's funny this topic came up. I was just talking with the other DM in our group about how a character is working out for a player. We have a guy who does not keep track of his own hit points. He writes down the damage he's taken, but he never adds it up. So we've been in scenarios where we ask him how many hit points he has and the answer comes up "2". We solved the problem by suggesting he play a dwarf barbarian. He still doesn't keep track of his hit points, but he dies a lot less often.
It's funny this topic came up. I was just talking with the other DM in our group about how a character is working out for a player. We have a guy who does not keep track of his own hit points. He writes down the damage he's taken, but he never adds it up. So we've been in scenarios where we ask him how many hit points he has and the answer comes up "2". We solved the problem by suggesting he play a dwarf barbarian. He still doesn't keep track of his hit points, but he dies a lot less often.
AdmundfortGeographer
Getting lost in fantasy maps
I always tell the DM, but I hate it when he fudges to keep my character alive. So put me down as a third option.
Frankly, the DM killing characters is about the best way he can figure out he's terrible at providing challenging encounters and instead seems to provide massacres. I want the DM to know this because he deserves to know he's screwed up as much as character death can teach players they've screwed up.
Regards,
Eric Anondson
Frankly, the DM killing characters is about the best way he can figure out he's terrible at providing challenging encounters and instead seems to provide massacres. I want the DM to know this because he deserves to know he's screwed up as much as character death can teach players they've screwed up.
Regards,
Eric Anondson
MerakSpielman
First Post
Yes, the encounter should have been designed better. I discovered in the course of 5 minutes what happens when you have 4 flying beasties with a 40' ranged touch attack that can be used every round, AND flyby attack, AND a meneuverability of Perfect, AND a decent intelligence.
Ankh-Morpork Guard
First Post
Its a matter of pride to tell the DM...if only you can say "HA! I'm still alive, punk!" afterwards. 
BiggusGeekus
That's Latin for "cool"
MerakSpielman said:
I'm sorry, I didn't mean that as a slam. I was specifically thinking of krenshar (my fave 3e critter) and how I almost caused a TPK in what was supposed to be a throwaway encounter. Mea Culpa.
barsoomcore
Unattainable Ideal
I never ask my players how many hit points they have left. I try to keep track of damage myself, and out of combat I'll verify my totals with theirs, but I don't ask before dishing it out.
Two facts that influence my practices: my party has gotten very adept at getting to and stablizing fallen characters (and that 10-hit-point buffer of "Dying" seems to catch most of them okay), and Swashbuckling cards. Players tend to hang on to those until they see me rolling the big dice. I let them play cards (and even share cards) in moments like that, and a number of PCs have been saved at the last minute (or actually, after the last minute) by creative application of Swash cards:
Two facts that influence my practices: my party has gotten very adept at getting to and stablizing fallen characters (and that 10-hit-point buffer of "Dying" seems to catch most of them okay), and Swashbuckling cards. Players tend to hang on to those until they see me rolling the big dice. I let them play cards (and even share cards) in moments like that, and a number of PCs have been saved at the last minute (or actually, after the last minute) by creative application of Swash cards:
- Me: You take... 73 points of damage.
- PC1: Oh. I'm at minus 21.
- Me: giggles madly, hoping to begin establishing some cred as a Rat Bastard DM
- PC1: K, wait, can I play this card? It says, 'Useful object comes to hand.'? Can I happen to put my hand out and grab a healing potion that was just lying there?
- Me: Don't be silly.
- PC2: Wait, I've got a card! It says, 'Gain access to a place you would otherwise be barred from.' Can I use that to get over next to PC1 and stabilize him?
- Me: He's at minus 21. It's not a question of stabilizing him, it's a question of finding all the bits.
- PC3: I have a card that says 'negate all damage dealt to you this round.' So he suffers no damage, right?
- PC1: Looks imploring at me.
- Me: Abandons dreams of Rat-Bastardism Yeah, alright. Fine.
Similar Threads
- Poll
