Zealot Barbarian Death

[Llama513]

I'm pretty sure that I understand the way the 14th level feature of the Zealot Barb works, but wanted to clarify, does it require you to keep track of damage that you take after you reach zero until you get to negative of your hitpoints, or do you have to take a single hit that drops you to negative of your hitpoints?

[nickl_2000]

You don't need to keep track of HPs at all. The negative to insta-kill you is from a single hit only

You are knocked below 1 HP
Round 1: Roll a death saving throw, succeed. You are raging so you also make your normal actions Death Saves: 1 success, 0 failures
Round 1 enemy: Enemy hits you. Death Saves: 1 success, 1 failure
Round 2: Roll a death saving throw, fail. You are still raging, can use normal actions. Death Saves: 1 success, 2 failures

Round 3 option 1: Rage ends, you fall unconscious and make the normal saving throw to see if you die
Round 3 option 2: Fail the third saving throw. You will be dead when your rage ends in however may turns.

Round 4: Continue normally since rage is still going on
Round 5: Continue normally since rage is still going on
Round 6: Continue normally since rage is still going on

Round 7 option 1: Rage end, you die
Round 7 option 1: Cleric healing words you to 3 HP, rage ends. You are perfectly fine.

[Llama513]

You don't need to keep track of HPs at all. The negative to insta-kill you is from a single hit only

You are knocked below 1 HP
Round 1: Roll a death saving throw, succeed. You are raging so you also make your normal actions Death Saves: 1 success, 0 failures
Round 1 enemy: Enemy hits you. Death Saves: 1 success, 1 failure
Round 2: Roll a death saving throw, fail. You are still raging, can use normal actions. Death Saves: 1 success, 2 failures

Round 3 option 1: Rage ends, you fall unconscious and make the normal saving throw to see if you die
Round 3 option 2: Fail the third saving throw. You will be dead when your rage ends in however may turns.

Round 4: Continue normally since rage is still going on
Round 5: Continue normally since rage is still going on
Round 6: Continue normally since rage is still going on

Round 7 option 1: Rage end, you die
Round 7 option 1: Cleric healing words you to 3 HP, rage ends. You are perfectly fine.

Well, that is terrifyingly powerful, if you aren't hit with sleep or a spell of that nature

[nickl_2000]

Well, that is terrifyingly powerful, if you aren't hit with sleep or a spell of that nature

It's a level 14 ability, it should be terrifyingly powerful :)


That being said, there are plenty of ways to end a rage from a Barbarian if necessary. Fear, charm, running away from the barbarian, a good suggestion spell, blinding them, forcecage. A smart opponent should know about the abilities.

[Llama513]

It's a level 14 ability, it should be terrifyingly powerful :)


That being said, there are plenty of ways to end a rage from a Barbarian if necessary. Fear, charm, running away from the barbarian, a good suggestion spell, blinding them, forcecage. A smart opponent should know about the abilities.

Most of the options that simply stop them from attacking, stop working at 15th level

[nickl_2000]

Most of the options that simply stop them from attacking, stop working at 15th level

True, as you said though, the simple sleep spell would work perfectly against them. After that, just run from them until they drop dead

[mer.c]

It's a level 14 ability, it should be terrifyingly powerful :)

"Should" being the operative word. In practice, though (https://roll20.net/compendium/dnd5e/Classes:Druid#toc_18)... :smallwink: