| TheJIT |
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.
Focusing in on: The creature is still staggered and loses 1 hit point each round.
Does the creature lose 1 hit point each round because it is still dying or does it lose 1 hit point each round because it took a standard action?
If it is because of the standard action, then does that mean the creature automatically stabilizes? If it is still dying, then I assume it will suffer the usual penalty for standard actions.
| Khudzlin |
Diehard (for comparison): When your hit point total is below 0, but you are not dead, [u]you automatically stabilize[/u]. You do not need to make a Constitution check each round to avoid losing additional hit points. You may choose to act as if you were disabled, rather than dying. You must make this decision as soon as you are reduced to negative hit points (even if it isn't your turn). If you do not choose to act as if you were disabled, you immediately fall unconscious.
Dying: [u]A dying creature is unconscious and near death[/u]. Creatures that have negative hit points and have not stabilized are dying. [u]A dying creature can take no actions[/u]. On the character's next turn, after being reduced to negative hit points (but not dead), and on all subsequent turns, the character must make a DC 10 Constitution check to become stable. The character takes a penalty on this roll equal to his negative hit point total. A character that is stable does not need to make this check. A natural 20 on this check is an automatic success. If the character fails this check, he loses 1 hit point. If a dying creature has an amount of negative hit points equal to its Constitution score, it dies.
Ferocity doesn't say anything about stabilizing (unlike Diehard), but it directly contradicts the Dying condition (the creature remains conscious and can take actions). There is no usual penalty for taking a standard action while dying, because a dying creature cannot take actions. The HP loss (and its conditions) is specific to the ability that lets the creature act (Diehard, Ferocity, etc.), so a creature with Ferocity in negative HP will lose 1 HP if it takes a move action, but a creature with Diehard wouldn't.
| TheJIT |
After thinking about it. It's simple if you think of the hit point loss as the price for being conscious rather than unconscious. The feat doesn't say anything about being stable, true, so we are led to believe the creature is still dying and will suffer hit point loss if it does not stabilize. Also, since the creature is staggered it will take a hit point loss if it uses a standard action. So, basically if an Orc at -1 hit points doesn't stabilize on his next round and decides to attack an opponent, he will suffer -3 hit points leaving him at -4 hit points.
Ferocious Action removes the Staggered condition, but the cost is -2 hit points a round or -1 if the creature is raging. Also, it's important to remember that if the Orc wanted to ignore the extra damage he could just waive the feat and pass out. Handy after getting to a safe spot.
This is just my thoughts on it.