I don't like the "Lose a Level" when you go to 0 HP (partially because what do you do with a 1st level PC?), but I want to have some consequence for doing so.
I made a house rule yesterday. If you go to 0 HP, you can't count the current level/session/major event toward leveling up. It still slows you down, but it takes away from a future level, not one you've already received. No trying to remember what you improved the last leveling up.
That's interesting! And indeed less punishing, but aren't you concernet that characters who survived 0HP are going to lose some of their motivation for the session/until the next goal award?
ReplyDeleteRegarding trying to remember what you improved the last level up, I was thinking the other day that you don't have to. You could just as well take different improvements.
Oh and a 1st level PC who survives 0HP becomes a level zero with just one trait. They need one goal to level up.
ReplyDeleteEric Nieudan I was concerned about what you took last leveling up because that should be what gets forgotten or reduced when you go down a level. How many HP did you roll?
ReplyDeleteAs for motivation, with 1 HP left, they are going to be pretty unmotivated to do much anyway. They will be cautious until they recover more HP, perhaps after a night's sleep.
This is exactly what my forester did yesterday. He fell to the skeletons. The party had no healing magic, so he shot his bow from the back of the group with 1 HP, and was replaced in the front line by the mechanical artificer's gynoid automaton, Chara-3.
ReplyDeleteYou're probably right. Such a character would in any case try and contribute as much as possible.
ReplyDeleteYou'd have to be an asshole to sabotage the session because you won't get your XP at the end =)
One question I had. After making your CON test and starting at 1 HP, can the PC immediately take a rest, eat some food, and regain some more HP?
ReplyDelete(In the case yesterday, the forester had already used his "eat-and-heal" about an hour prior in-game time.)
ReplyDeleteEric Nieudan: Why assume that it is the need for XP that drives adventuring. On the other hand I can definitely see that a character who has gone to 0 hp will be less inclined to take risks, but after such a close call you would be hesitant.
ReplyDeleteBrett Slocum It's up to you really, depending on how magnanimous you feel and how. I was about to say I'd enforce the rule strictly, but I probably let players get away with it more often than not.
ReplyDeleteSmart!
ReplyDelete