Merlin the Tuna
2008-06-26, 02:11 PM
So, 4e rules primer for the uninitiated. When a monster is reduced to 0 HP, the player who struck the last blow can freely decide whether it's knocked out or dead, whether they're using a great axe, crossbow, Scorching Burst, Shining Finger, Razor Leaf, or whatever.
On the PC side of the fence, when a player is reduced to 0 HP, they're rendered unconscious. They roll a save on each turn until either they fail 3 and die or roll a natural 20 and bounce back up (assuming they have a healing surge ready). Another character can also administer first aid to stabilize them.
My question is, given this already kind-of silly (but thoroughly enjoyable) system, what advantage to we have to calling them unconscious as opposed to just calling them incapacitated? Instead of completely KOing the person involved, why not just put them on the ground, bleeding, groaning, and unable to act or resist being bound?
KO'd monsters are typically not killed so that they can be interrogated. I don't see much benefit in making that interrogation happen five minutes after the battle ends as opposed to 10 seconds after the battle ends. Same deal for capturing prisoners. This also feels a little bit more reasonable when using attacks that amount to something other than "I hit him in the head with a blunt object."
PCs have the power to bounce back up from unconsciousness on a nat 20, at which point they will begin acting as tactically as the player can manage; this doesn't really correspond well to them being completely out of commission, even for just a few rounds. If instead they're able to helplessly watch the battle transpire, it makes a bit more sense that they can keep track of what's going on and what needs to be done. It also makes healing techniques based on inspiration make about a million percent more sense. Personally, I think it's got a bit more of a gritty feeling to it, as well. And finally, it means less time having PCs explain what's been going on to other PCs that got KO'd during the battle.
I figure that it just makes more sense to let your players know that enemies can be killed, KO'd, or simply disabled and that PCs will typically be disabled rather than KO'd when their HP reach 0.
Thoughts?
On the PC side of the fence, when a player is reduced to 0 HP, they're rendered unconscious. They roll a save on each turn until either they fail 3 and die or roll a natural 20 and bounce back up (assuming they have a healing surge ready). Another character can also administer first aid to stabilize them.
My question is, given this already kind-of silly (but thoroughly enjoyable) system, what advantage to we have to calling them unconscious as opposed to just calling them incapacitated? Instead of completely KOing the person involved, why not just put them on the ground, bleeding, groaning, and unable to act or resist being bound?
KO'd monsters are typically not killed so that they can be interrogated. I don't see much benefit in making that interrogation happen five minutes after the battle ends as opposed to 10 seconds after the battle ends. Same deal for capturing prisoners. This also feels a little bit more reasonable when using attacks that amount to something other than "I hit him in the head with a blunt object."
PCs have the power to bounce back up from unconsciousness on a nat 20, at which point they will begin acting as tactically as the player can manage; this doesn't really correspond well to them being completely out of commission, even for just a few rounds. If instead they're able to helplessly watch the battle transpire, it makes a bit more sense that they can keep track of what's going on and what needs to be done. It also makes healing techniques based on inspiration make about a million percent more sense. Personally, I think it's got a bit more of a gritty feeling to it, as well. And finally, it means less time having PCs explain what's been going on to other PCs that got KO'd during the battle.
I figure that it just makes more sense to let your players know that enemies can be killed, KO'd, or simply disabled and that PCs will typically be disabled rather than KO'd when their HP reach 0.
Thoughts?