Monday, 23 July 2018

Death rules for OSR games: Three Critical Conditions

I was inspired to adapt Eric Diaz at Methods & Madness's nice idea for a death mechanic to 5e. Here a version for OSR games. I think it could be a nice system that's relatively simpler than some of the other ones out there that use chits, dice pools etc.

This version is somewhat more deadly, to be more in tune with the typical OSR baseline and playstyle. Though I reckon it's less deadly than, say, LotFP's default death rules, which, in turn, are less deadly than the original "dead at 0 HP, period" rules.

Death saving throws have been replaced here with rolls under Constitution. Perhaps you prefer using saves vs. Death, or a straight 50% chance, instead.

The Weakened condition raises you from e.g. lightly encumbered to heavily encumbered, and since in LotFP chases you roll 1d20+speed, it might lead to some interesting choices.



Variant death rule: Critical Conditions


There are no negative hit points. When you are reduced to 0 hit points, you suffer one of the following critical conditions of your choice that you are not already suffering from: Bleeding Out, Weakened, or Knocked Out. If you take any damage while at 0 hit points, you suffer another critical condition.
Bleeding Out. Each round, roll under Constitution or suffer another critical condition.
Weakened. You have -4 penalty on all d20 rolls and -1 penalty on all d6 skills. You count as one tier of encumbrance higher. If you cast a spell, roll under Constitution or suffer another critical condition.
Knocked Out. You are unconscious. If left alone, this condition ends after 1 hour.
Death. If you have all three critical conditions at the same time, you die. You also die instantly if excess damage at 0 hit points equals or exceeds your hit point maximum.
Healing at 0 hit points. If an effect would restore hit points to you, you instead remove one critical condition with the following priority: first remove Bleeding Out, then Weakened, and lastly Knocked Out. You cannot gain hit points until all critical conditions have been removed.




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