can i get some opinions about ongoing damage - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

can i get some opinions about ongoing damage

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
DanTracker
Dec 10, 2009 6:39:19 i've been watching a BBC tv series of Robin Hood that i really like and want to incorporate ideas into my campaign world.

one such idea is that, during a fight, Lady Marian was stabbed, but was unaware and ran off into the forest with Robin. essentially she was bleeding internally and taking ongoing damage but was unaware of the damage. after they ran for a bit and talked some, she fainted from the internal injury.

another of Robin's band had medical skills and knew that surgery would immediately be needed. Robin also went into town to find a physician that had surgical tools.

what occurred next was the physician left a trail for the sheriff to follow and that turned into an encounter while he looked over the work done by Robin's party member and administered hemlock, which gives the appearance of death for a time until the body can recover. by causing Lady Marian to appear dead, Robin and his men fought off the Sheriff and his mooks with unparalleled ferocity.

what i'd like to incorporate is ongoing damage without a save ends, requiring the character affected to undergo the ritual remove affliction in order to recover. the ritual components may require a small skill challenge to gather. then, throw in an encounter to distract some of the key characters while the ritual caster works. if they at least see that their party member could in fact die with no way to prevent it, i'd give a + to all attacks and damages and possibly defenses too.

are there existing methods of bringing the scene to life? would it be unfair to administer ongoing damage without a save ends?

partly this is related to a power gamer/slayer at the table that doesn't often enough feel the threat of mortal danger to his two characters. i'd like to make his play experience more challenging. or i'd like to kill one of his characters and let other players fill in the glory gap that would grow from his reduced overall power in the face of combat.

partly this seems like an awesome tv show that i want to steal ideas from.
#2
generalhenry
Dec 10, 2009 11:31:35 I think the disease mechanic could be adapted to that purpose
#3
bone_naga
Dec 10, 2009 11:32:12 If you do it to a PC, I think it's only fair to make it a save ends effect. With NPCs, however, anything is fair game.
#4
halcyondaysofillusion
Dec 10, 2009 16:34:16 I'd go with a disease track on this one. Make the first few steps losses of hit points and/or healing surges, and the last one unconsciousness or something similarly nasty.
#5
Neutronium_Dragon
Dec 10, 2009 21:02:06 > this is related to a power gamer/slayer at the table that doesn't often
> enough feel the threat of mortal danger to his two characters. i'd like to
> make his play experience more challenging. or i'd like to kill one of his
> characters and let other players fill in the glory gap

And this is the big red flag that tells me that it's a bad idea to do it.
#6
DanTracker
Dec 10, 2009 21:27:43
...related to a power gamer/slayer at the table that doesn't often enough feel the threat of mortal danger to his two characters. i'd like to make his play experience more challenging. or i'd like to kill one of his characters and let other players fill in the glory gap... And this is the big red flag that tells me that it's a bad idea to do it.

all too true. i should be considering whether i couldn't work in more spotlight for other characters without resorting to killing his characters.

otherwise, as others have mentioned, the disease track is probably the best method. i already used it before on the party for a previous adventure, so we've at least explored that mechanic.

as it is an existing mechanic with a wide variety of diseases, it would be easy to pattern a homebrewed 'severe internal injury' using examples from existing disease tracks.

also, the disease track would immediately apply to using the ritual of remove affliction or cure disease, even delay affliction. this would be within the existing rules without a problem. adding some skill challenge flair to gathering materials would be an easy addition.

not only that, but the remove affliction and cure disease rituals, when performed without optimally trained casters and assistants, place a risk of causing harm to the target of the ritual. this would be a perfect example of the danger of surgery to repair internal damage.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 DanTracker Dec 10, 2009 6:39:19	i've been watching a BBC tv series of Robin Hood that i really like and want to incorporate ideas into my campaign world. one such idea is that, during a fight, Lady Marian was stabbed, but was unaware and ran off into the forest with Robin. essentially she was bleeding internally and taking ongoing damage but was unaware of the damage. after they ran for a bit and talked some, she fainted from the internal injury. another of Robin's band had medical skills and knew that surgery would immediately be needed. Robin also went into town to find a physician that had surgical tools. what occurred next was the physician left a trail for the sheriff to follow and that turned into an encounter while he looked over the work done by Robin's party member and administered hemlock, which gives the appearance of death for a time until the body can recover. by causing Lady Marian to appear dead, Robin and his men fought off the Sheriff and his mooks with unparalleled ferocity. what i'd like to incorporate is ongoing damage without a save ends, requiring the character affected to undergo the ritual remove affliction in order to recover. the ritual components may require a small skill challenge to gather. then, throw in an encounter to distract some of the key characters while the ritual caster works. if they at least see that their party member could in fact die with no way to prevent it, i'd give a + to all attacks and damages and possibly defenses too. are there existing methods of bringing the scene to life? would it be unfair to administer ongoing damage without a save ends? partly this is related to a power gamer/slayer at the table that doesn't often enough feel the threat of mortal danger to his two characters. i'd like to make his play experience more challenging. or i'd like to kill one of his characters and let other players fill in the glory gap that would grow from his reduced overall power in the face of combat. partly this seems like an awesome tv show that i want to steal ideas from.
#2 generalhenry Dec 10, 2009 11:31:35	I think the disease mechanic could be adapted to that purpose
#3 bone_naga Dec 10, 2009 11:32:12	If you do it to a PC, I think it's only fair to make it a save ends effect. With NPCs, however, anything is fair game.
#4 halcyondaysofillusion Dec 10, 2009 16:34:16	I'd go with a disease track on this one. Make the first few steps losses of hit points and/or healing surges, and the last one unconsciousness or something similarly nasty.
#5 Neutronium_Dragon Dec 10, 2009 21:02:06	> this is related to a power gamer/slayer at the table that doesn't often > enough feel the threat of mortal danger to his two characters. i'd like to > make his play experience more challenging. or i'd like to kill one of his > characters and let other players fill in the glory gap And this is the big red flag that tells me that it's a bad idea to do it.
#6 DanTracker Dec 10, 2009 21:27:43	...related to a power gamer/slayer at the table that doesn't often enough feel the threat of mortal danger to his two characters. i'd like to make his play experience more challenging. or i'd like to kill one of his characters and let other players fill in the glory gap... And this is the big red flag that tells me that it's a bad idea to do it. all too true. i should be considering whether i couldn't work in more spotlight for other characters without resorting to killing his characters. otherwise, as others have mentioned, the disease track is probably the best method. i already used it before on the party for a previous adventure, so we've at least explored that mechanic. as it is an existing mechanic with a wide variety of diseases, it would be easy to pattern a homebrewed 'severe internal injury' using examples from existing disease tracks. also, the disease track would immediately apply to using the ritual of remove affliction or cure disease, even delay affliction. this would be within the existing rules without a problem. adding some skill challenge flair to gathering materials would be an easy addition. not only that, but the remove affliction and cure disease rituals, when performed without optimally trained casters and assistants, place a risk of causing harm to the target of the ritual. this would be a perfect example of the danger of surgery to repair internal damage.