Question about Monster not falling unconcious

[Narrowascent]

So I have a GM asking me because I have GMed before what it means when a monster/creature has a statement that it does not go uncouncious but rather stabalizes if at negative hitpoints. Sorry rought translation from Spanish. I do not know what creature it is because he does not want to ruin the story for me.

All I know about this is the ability of say a barbarian in being able to stabalize with I think it is called orc ferocity but that if hit again he goes down. Wondering it that is the same situation for this creature or if you can only kill it when it gets to negative its ammount of hitpoints like a pc.

[Narrowascent]

Just realized this should be in Rules and questions forum which I thought I was in. If a mod wants to move it that is fine. Sorry :P

[Narrowascent]

Anyone know?

[Wonderstell]

Narrowascent wrote:

Wondering it that is the same situation for this creature or if you can only kill it when it gets to negative its ammount of hitpoints like a pc.

Technically only undead and constructs die when they reach 0 HP. All other creatures die first when they reach their negative Con score. (Summoned creatures disappear when they reach 0, though).

Sounds like the monster/creature is meant to keep fighting even when it goes below 0 HP. Like if it had Diehard or Ferocity.

[Narrowascent]

Wow really I never have seen that in any of my games. I have never seen any creature we fought go unconscious like a pc does. When they get to 0 they die. Are you sure that is how it works? Not doubting but been in tons of games and have not seen that.

[Wonderstell]

Well yes, it's not a PC thing to survive below 0 HP. Most GMs just handwave enemies below 0 HP being dead so that they don't have to bother with stabilization checks or having the players executing foes in cold blood.

If it was, things like Cry of Mercy and Compassionate would be worthless.

[Mysterious Stranger]

In reality most creatures that hit 0 or lower HP will probably end up bleeding out if no tries to save them. Or at the least be down long enough the players can simply kill them if they wish. At higher level most characters damage often puts the enemy down lower than 0 HP so it becomes even harder for them to survive.

[Claxon]

Narrowascent wrote:

Wow really I never have seen that in any of my games. I have never seen any creature we fought go unconscious like a pc does. When they get to 0 they die. Are you sure that is how it works? Not doubting but been in tons of games and have not seen that.

That's technically how it should work, but very few groups play it that way because it create moral dilemmas of "this evil thing isn't dead, what do we do with it?" which aren't terribly fun for the group. And also unless the enemy has healing capabilities, a creature knocked unconscious is effectively dead. It also creates extra tracking for the GM, and they already have enough to keep track of.

So, for a multitude of reasons most groups run it simply as enemy hits 0 hp and is dead.

[Melkiador]

In addition to what Claxon said, you might subvert this by saying you intend to leave survivors at the start of the fight, leading the GM to track those downed enemies.

I've also played beside more paranoid and murderous characters who always make sure to finish off any not quite dead enemies after combat, either way.

[Ryze Kuja]

Unless a PC tells me that they're attempting to leave a foe alive but unconscious (for interrogation or w/e reason), then I typically hand-waive all the CDG's after combat. 0 HP = dead, unless you specify otherwise.

If the PC's kill everything and combat ends, and then decide after the fact that they wanted to leave one of these guys alive, then I'll retcon it. Technically per RAW, all of these creatures are alive but unconscious, and it was my hand-waive to CDG all these creatures, so I'll retcon it and make it right. Although, if the killing blow was enough damage to reduce them to negative Con Score, then I won't retcon it-- you killed it on accident.

[Mightypion]

When I GM, I run things as such:

--When a creature goes below zero, I check if the player put it to negative HP or outright killed it. I do not keep rolling stabilization rolls for it.
--I occassionally ask players "how do you want to kill it/defeat it", if its something like "I cleave the Orc in 2 parts!" its dead even if its technically unconcious.
--If a player says they dont want to kill someone, they get to make sense motive, heal, perception or appropriate Kn. checks to know how badly hurt the target is. I also use "if you attack non lethally with a lethal weapon, you forgo any chances of critical hits" rather then the -4 to hit rule. Specific feats (Saerenraes fighting technique etc) or weapon mean you can still crit non-lethally.

--I typically homebrew a "Ransom broker" mechanic as I prefer enemies with a degree of nuance, and those could typically be ransomed. The players can choose if they want to hold them for a ransom, exchange, kill them, let them flee etc.
--Once they reach a high enough level, they get a scroll of "summon ransom broker", its a bit like "infernal challenger", summons an intelligent outsider appropriate to your alignment for the purpose of handling ransom agreements, and only for that purpose. If things went proper, the outsider hands them a new scroll of "summon ransom broker".

[Hugo Rune]

Ryze Kuja wrote:

Unless a PC tells me that they're attempting to leave a foe alive but unconscious (for interrogation or w/e reason), then I typically hand-waive all the CDG's after combat. 0 HP = dead, unless you specify otherwise.

If the PC's kill everything and combat ends, and then decide after the fact that they wanted to leave one of these guys alive, then I'll retcon it. Technically per RAW, all of these creatures are alive but unconscious, and it was my hand-waive to CDG all these creatures, so I'll retcon it and make it right. Although, if the killing blow was enough damage to reduce them to negative Con Score, then I won't retcon it-- you killed it on accident.

I do this as well provided the PCs hold the field and have time to search the bodies. But if the PCs are forced to flee or are in a hurry then I track the negative HP and stabilisation checks.

Given Evil's limited access to healing, this usually means that there is a future encounter with a bunch of wounded guards and a barracks that resembles a hospital.