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I have a question to pose regarding how temporary hit points are considered in relation to determining current hit points.
Let's say I have 95 HPs remaining, and 20 hit points from a False Life I cast, for a total of 115. We're fighting a BBEG, and he uses Power Word Kill.
Do the temporary hit points count towards my total HPs, meaning I'm at 115, and survive?
Or do they count as a separate HP pool that's depleted first in addition to my normal HPs, in which case I have 95 HPs, and die?
A quote from the prd or recent FAQ would be awesome, but obviously there isn't always one.
In all other circumstances outside of a healing effect, they're working in tandem with your normal hit points. I see no reason it wouldn't effectively bump your overall hp (temporarily) to over 100 and save your butt, same as if you were hit with a critical for over 100 points of damage that would otherwise have killed you.
I've always thought the same thing: Temporary HPs are simply HPs that can't be healed. I ask for clarification because this came up in the last session, and the DM thought that they're not normal HPs, which put me in the threshold to be affected by Power Word Stun.
I wasn't certain, so I didn't argue, but obviously the question is here now so I know in the future.