Which NPCs get negative HP rule?

[Salasin]

Do monsters get the "0 helpless, -1 to -9 dying, -10 dead" rule? If "no," which NPCs get that benefit?
Salasin

 

[hong]

RAW, everyone is staggered at 0, unconscious at -1 to -9, and dead at -10. (Well, except undead and constructs.)

In practice, I suspect that most people play it so that all NPCs and monsters die at 0 or -1.

 

[Infiniti2000]

Everyone gets that rule applied, except for undead, summoned monsters, and possibly other special cases. An orc, however, doesn't die until -10 HP. If the DM doesn't apply this rule, it's usually to simplify things in the expectation that the PCs will win and will not try to bind the wounds of the fallen villains.

 

[Gumby]

In our campaigns, non-PCs die at -1 and below, unless the DM wants the PCs to heal said NPC for some plot purpose, and then he'll call attention to his comatose, but still bleeding, state.

The effects of somebody being at 0 HP and disabled are too hilarious to disregard, we've found.

 

[Fieari]

While the rule IS applied to everyone (exceptions listed specifically under type traits, such as for undead) in general, anything players bring to -1 is basically dead anyway, since they'll bleed to death if not given aid, and it's not like the players will be giving aid, right? The only time it'd come up is if fighting foes with a cleric. It might also happen if your fighting a group, and the players get driven off before killing them all. Then the fallen (but not yet dead) will get aid from their comrades.

Also note that undead PCs also do not get -1 to -10. PC status has nothing to do with it.

 

[Salasin]

While the rule IS applied to everyone... in general, anything players bring to -1 is basically dead anyway, since they'll bleed to death if not given aid, and it's not like the players will be giving aid, right?

'Course, everyone gets a 10% chance to stabilize on their own each round (right?), and if they do stabilize, they have a 10% chance each hour to become conscious and disabled. So I guess you could have a monster bleeding and staggering at half speed across the plains, looking for the PCs...

I'll probably rule that -1 means a dead opponent in our game, though. It would speed up play, and in our game I'd rather not encourage too many bloodthirsty coups de grace.

 

[Salasin]

Everyone gets that rule applied, except for undead, summoned monsters, and possibly other special cases.

It's funny that every time I saw something related to this rule (I only looked in the SRD and 3.5 DMG/PHB/MM), they used the general term "character." Maybe that's too nitpicky, though.

Thanks for the speedy answers! Looks like we have a dedicated community here.

 

[Delta]

NPC's are characters, too.

 

[Sejs]

Technically anything with a con score can go up to -10.

Functionally, unless the NPC is plot significant I'll give them one shot at stabilization and then not bother.

 

[Salasin]

Functionally, unless the NPC is plot significant I'll give them one shot at stabilization and then not bother.

Have you ever had one stabilize on his/her own? I'm wondering how this would affect combat.