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<blockquote data-quote="auburn2" data-source="post: 8030558" data-attributes="member: 6855259">The rules are designed to provide a simple easy to follow formula for something that physically has a myriad of conditional variables.To start with, the rules are soft so you don't wipe out a member on an unlucky die roll.&nbsp; If the party is looking at climbing up to a cave 30 foot up the mountain the wizard might be very hesitant to risk the climb if a fall means near-certain death (as it would in real life), even the burly fighter with athletics proficiency might be hesitant because there is a legit (say 20%) chance of a fall.&nbsp; Do you really want to tell the player - &quot;that is it your done, the rest of us will continue&quot;Second while it is relatively simple to calculate free fall acceleration, most of the falls are not that.&nbsp; Most of them are fall in a pit trap, fall off a wall you are climbing, slip and fall down the rope.&nbsp; All of these cases are much less ambiguous, because you are sliding, briefly contacting the wall, trying to stop yourself etc.&nbsp; Given the OP example - faced with presumably near-certain death from some monster on the ledge Conan decides to jump off and try to slide down the cliff face.&nbsp; I could see that happening, but it really is dependant on the situation.Keep in mind on September 11th 2001, some people DID jump out of the windows of the World Trade Center.&nbsp; I believe all of them died, but they presumably did this because they thought they had a better chance then burning/suffocating.&nbsp; So it is not unreasonable that someone would do this even if faced with certain death.&nbsp; If this was the kind of choice the Barbarian was making I would allow him to do it.What I would do at the table would depend on the situation.&nbsp; Remember and remind the player that the DM is the ultimate judge and if you say the fall is going to kill him then it is going to kill him and I disagree with others that say there is an inconsistency.&nbsp; You also do not have to house rule it either, it could be just for this situation.&nbsp; Just like you don't have to house rule it if two PCs say one of them is going to cut the head off&nbsp; of the other PC and show it to the townsfolk to intimidate them -&nbsp; &quot;Ok Conan cuts off Frodo's head.&nbsp; A greatsword does 2d6, you rolled a 10, so Frodo you lose 10&nbsp; hp and have 45 hp remaining.&nbsp; Conan you wave Frodo's head in front of the crowd, roll intimidation with advantage ....&nbsp; Frodo it is your turn what do you do?&quot;&nbsp;&nbsp; You wouldn't say that or allow it, this is no different IMO IF the Barbarian was really approaching it in a similar fashion</blockquote>

[QUOTE="auburn2, post: 8030558, member: 6855259"] The rules are designed to provide a simple easy to follow formula for something that physically has a myriad of conditional variables. To start with, the rules are soft so you don't wipe out a member on an unlucky die roll. If the party is looking at climbing up to a cave 30 foot up the mountain the wizard might be very hesitant to risk the climb if a fall means near-certain death (as it would in real life), even the burly fighter with athletics proficiency might be hesitant because there is a legit (say 20%) chance of a fall. Do you really want to tell the player - "that is it your done, the rest of us will continue" Second while it is relatively simple to calculate free fall acceleration, most of the falls are not that. Most of them are fall in a pit trap, fall off a wall you are climbing, slip and fall down the rope. All of these cases are much less ambiguous, because you are sliding, briefly contacting the wall, trying to stop yourself etc. Given the OP example - faced with presumably near-certain death from some monster on the ledge Conan decides to jump off and try to slide down the cliff face. I could see that happening, but it really is dependant on the situation. Keep in mind on September 11th 2001, some people DID jump out of the windows of the World Trade Center. I believe all of them died, but they presumably did this because they thought they had a better chance then burning/suffocating. So it is not unreasonable that someone would do this even if faced with certain death. If this was the kind of choice the Barbarian was making I would allow him to do it. What I would do at the table would depend on the situation. Remember and remind the player that the DM is the ultimate judge and if you say the fall is going to kill him then it is going to kill him and I disagree with others that say there is an inconsistency. You also do not have to house rule it either, it could be just for this situation. Just like you don't have to house rule it if two PCs say one of them is going to cut the head off of the other PC and show it to the townsfolk to intimidate them - "Ok Conan cuts off Frodo's head. A greatsword does 2d6, you rolled a 10, so Frodo you lose 10 hp and have 45 hp remaining. Conan you wave Frodo's head in front of the crowd, roll intimidation with advantage .... Frodo it is your turn what do you do?" You wouldn't say that or allow it, this is no different IMO IF the Barbarian was really approaching it in a similar fashion [/QUOTE]

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