A question about subdual damage / nonlethal damage [Archive] - Wizards Community

A question about subdual damage / nonlethal damage [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
cr0wangel
12-26-03, 05:05 PM As a DM I am wondering something. As subdual damage (called nonlethal damage in 3.5e) goes up, the character (PC or NPC or whatever) fall unconscious. But can a character dies because of subdual damage? Nothing is explained about this in the books.

If a character has 10 HP and he has 11 subdual damage he is unconscious. But what if the evil guy continues to beat him...what will happen if the subdual damage is 20 and 30 and 50 and so on? The character will just be unconscious more longer???

Weird thing : go read in the DM book about starvation and suffocation p.304. You can read the character will suffer subdual damage because of his condition...but what will happen when the character will fall unconscious? It's not mentionned he will be dead; as we have to follow the rules of the subdual damage even if the character has no air (suffocation) or no foods/water (starvation) he will still be only unconscious not dead.
Kalidor
12-26-03, 05:07 PM You cannot die from non lethal damage, that is to say, non lethal damage will not kill you directly.

However, once you are knocked out you're considered helpless, and the attacker can then inflict normal damage without penalty and even coup de grace you.
cr0wangel
12-26-03, 05:13 PM I know that. Thank you for your reply.

But if we follow the rules of the book...a character in a place without air will eventually fall unconscious and his friends can rescue him 1 week later, as he will still be unconscious (but with 3000 + subdual damage).

I know this is stupid, but this is how it works if we use the rules as they are.
Kalidor
12-26-03, 05:19 PM Well, it does seem somewhat true about characters who aren't getting food or water... its not unheard of that people could be found alive under such conditions.

However, the rules about suffocation are pretty clear, and rather severe:

SUFFOCATION
A character who has no air to breathe can hold her breath for 2 rounds per point of Constitution. After this period of time, the character must make a DC 10 Constitution check in order to continue holding her breath. The save must be repeated each round, with the DC increasing by +1 for each previous success.
When the character fails one of these Constitution checks, she begins to suffocate. In the first round, she falls unconscious (0 hit points). In the following round, she drops to –1 hit points and is dying. In the third round, she suffocates.
Lewin
12-26-03, 09:24 PM Starvation is somewhat covered, IIRC. I believe they indicate that 7 days without water is fatal, and 2-3 weeks without food is fatal. Should be in the DMG somewhere.
Fixxxer
12-27-03, 12:53 AM Although I couldn't point you to the source (off the top of my head), I seem to recall reading that any subdual damage administered after you're dropped unconcious by subdual damage is converted to lethal damage.
Dartanel
12-27-03, 04:31 AM Originally posted by Fixxxer
Although I couldn't point you to the source (off the top of my head), I seem to recall reading that any subdual damage administered after you're dropped unconcious by subdual damage is converted to lethal damage.

It's under environmental hazards (back end of the DMG) and only applies to them. Things like extreme cold, heat, etc.
xect
12-27-03, 07:43 AM I'd rule that subdual damage from starvation, thirst and lack of air also turn to lethal damage when the character passes -10 points by subdual.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
cr0wangel 12-26-03, 05:05 PM	As a DM I am wondering something. As subdual damage (called nonlethal damage in 3.5e) goes up, the character (PC or NPC or whatever) fall unconscious. But can a character dies because of subdual damage? Nothing is explained about this in the books. If a character has 10 HP and he has 11 subdual damage he is unconscious. But what if the evil guy continues to beat him...what will happen if the subdual damage is 20 and 30 and 50 and so on? The character will just be unconscious more longer??? Weird thing : go read in the DM book about starvation and suffocation p.304. You can read the character will suffer subdual damage because of his condition...but what will happen when the character will fall unconscious? It's not mentionned he will be dead; as we have to follow the rules of the subdual damage even if the character has no air (suffocation) or no foods/water (starvation) he will still be only unconscious not dead.
Kalidor 12-26-03, 05:07 PM	You cannot die from non lethal damage, that is to say, non lethal damage will not kill you directly. However, once you are knocked out you're considered helpless, and the attacker can then inflict normal damage without penalty and even coup de grace you.
cr0wangel 12-26-03, 05:13 PM	I know that. Thank you for your reply. But if we follow the rules of the book...a character in a place without air will eventually fall unconscious and his friends can rescue him 1 week later, as he will still be unconscious (but with 3000 + subdual damage). I know this is stupid, but this is how it works if we use the rules as they are.
Kalidor 12-26-03, 05:19 PM	Well, it does seem somewhat true about characters who aren't getting food or water... its not unheard of that people could be found alive under such conditions. However, the rules about suffocation are pretty clear, and rather severe: SUFFOCATION A character who has no air to breathe can hold her breath for 2 rounds per point of Constitution. After this period of time, the character must make a DC 10 Constitution check in order to continue holding her breath. The save must be repeated each round, with the DC increasing by +1 for each previous success. When the character fails one of these Constitution checks, she begins to suffocate. In the first round, she falls unconscious (0 hit points). In the following round, she drops to –1 hit points and is dying. In the third round, she suffocates.
Lewin 12-26-03, 09:24 PM	Starvation is somewhat covered, IIRC. I believe they indicate that 7 days without water is fatal, and 2-3 weeks without food is fatal. Should be in the DMG somewhere.
Fixxxer 12-27-03, 12:53 AM	Although I couldn't point you to the source (off the top of my head), I seem to recall reading that any subdual damage administered after you're dropped unconcious by subdual damage is converted to lethal damage.
Dartanel 12-27-03, 04:31 AM	Originally posted by Fixxxer Although I couldn't point you to the source (off the top of my head), I seem to recall reading that any subdual damage administered after you're dropped unconcious by subdual damage is converted to lethal damage. It's under environmental hazards (back end of the DMG) and only applies to them. Things like extreme cold, heat, etc.
xect 12-27-03, 07:43 AM	I'd rule that subdual damage from starvation, thirst and lack of air also turn to lethal damage when the character passes -10 points by subdual.