There is a part of the text that needs clarification.
-------------------------
Dying: A dying creature is unconscious and near death. Creatures that have negative hit points and have not stabilized are dying. A dying creature can take no actions.
Ferocity (Ex) A creature with ferocity remains conscious and can continue fighting even if its hit point total is below 0. The creature is still staggered and loses 1 hit point each round. A creature with ferocity still dies when its hit point total reaches a negative amount equal to its Constitution score.
Stabilization: A character who was dying but who has stopped losing hit points each round and still has negative hit points is stable. The character is no longer dying, but is still unconscious.
Sacred Touch (Trait): As a standard action, you may automatically stabilize a dying creature merely by touching it.
------------------------
Here's the problem: Is a dying creature one that is unconscious, one that has negative hit points and has not stabilized, or both?
If it's both, then is a creature with ferocity capable of dying? What happens to the sentence "Creatures that have negative hit points and have not stabilized are dying."?
I want to play a barbarian half-orc with the Ferocious Resolve feat (granting full ferocity) and who has Sacred Touch. This way, if I'm brought below zero HP I can stabilize myself automatically and get over to the healer.
I've seen tabe variation where some GMs allow this and others do not. If I could get clarification, I'd be appreciative. If I could get a James Jacobs or otherwise official reply I would be over the moon as it would solve my "table variation" issues as we all have eminent respect for your guys' word. We house-rule rarely. I'm less concerned with getting things my way than I am with playing it by the book.
Is a dying creature one that is unconscious, one that has negative hit points and has not stabilized, or both?
By definition, both. Things with Ferocity (or abilities similar) still lose 1hp per round, and are probably still considered dying.
If it's both, then is a creature with ferocity capable of dying? What happens to the sentence "Creatures that have negative hit points and have not stabilized are dying."?
Creatures will still lose 1hp per round until they do hit their negative in Con, in which they would die.
I want to play a barbarian half-orc with the Ferocious Resolve feat (granting full ferocity) and who has Sacred Touch. This way, if I'm brought below zero HP I can stabilize myself automatically and get over to the healer.
This wouldn't work, as Stabilization specifies the creature would still be unconscious. The way I see it, you stop bleeding out and close wounds enough on a creature plopped on the ground. Someone still moving about would re-open wounds. At least, that's how I figure it.
I'm no James Jacob, but I hope this helps.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
This wouldn't work, as Stabilization specifies the creature would still be unconscious. The way I see it, you stop bleeding out and close wounds enough on a creature plopped on the ground. Someone still moving about would re-open wounds.
Keep in mind (this is from the ferocity definition above)
" The creature is still staggered."The definition of staggered:
"When your current hit point total drops to exactly 0, you are disabled. You gain the staggered condition and can only take a single move or standard action each turn (but not both, nor can you take full-round actions). You can take move actions without further injuring yourself, but if you perform any standard action (or any other strenuous action) you take 1 point of damage after completing the act. Unless your activity increased your hit points, you are now at –1 hit points and dying."
So, by the definition of staggered, you actually should, indeed, be able to run around without bleeding out. Yes, if you take a standard action, you would go back to dying, but not if you just move to the cleric, right?
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Wait a minute. I figured out the solution to my problem. Is anyone paying attention? Is everyone ready? For the purposes of the use I want use this course of actions doesn't work.
Here's why:
The definition of staggered:
"When your current hit point total drops to exactly 0, you are disabled. You gain the staggered condition and can only take a single move or standard action each turn (but not both, nor can you take full-round actions). You can take move actions without further injuring yourself, but if you perform any standard action (or any other strenuous action) you take 1 point of damage after completing the act. Unless your activity increased your hit points, you are now at –1 hit points and dying."
Sacred Touch (Trait): As a standard action, you may automatically stabilize a dying creature merely by touching it.
In short: I can stabilize myself but immediately after taking the standard action to do so, I've torn myself up so bad by doing so that I'm dying again.
Wait a minute. I figured out the solution to my problem. Is anyone paying attention? Is everyone ready? For the purposes of the use I want use this course of actions doesn't work.
Here's why:
The definition of staggered:
"When your current hit point total drops to exactly 0, you are disabled. You gain the staggered condition and can only take a single move or standard action each turn (but not both, nor can you take full-round actions). You can take move actions without further injuring yourself, but if you perform any standard action (or any other strenuous action) you take 1 point of damage after completing the act. Unless your activity increased your hit points, you are now at –1 hit points and dying."Sacred Touch (Trait): As a standard action, you may automatically stabilize a dying creature merely by touching it.
In short: I can stabilize myself but immediately after taking the standard action to do so, I've torn myself up so bad by doing so that I'm dying again.
I wasn't aware of the confusion around being staggered versus being unconscious, but hey, solutions are grand.