Can Medicine checks be used, with decent rolls, to completely mitigate the risk of death from ongoing damage? The 2019 Stack Overflow Developer Survey Results Are InDoes a hit to a stabilized character count as a death saving failure?Death saving throws / critical hitsWhat is the probability of surviving my death saves?How else can I get Advantage on Death Saving Throws?Does Psychic Crush cause stunning on a successful save also?When stabilized, will receiving temporary hit points prevent failed Death Save when hit?How to resolve multiple 'start of turn' triggersDoes a failed Stabilize action count as a failed death saving throw?How to determine cause of death when Death Saving Throws fail due to an attack rather than a rollHow does Healing Spirit interact with death saving throws?

Is flight data recorder erased after every flight?

How long do I have to send payment?

What is the motivation for a law requiring 2 parties to consent for recording a conversation

I looked up a future colleague on LinkedIn before I started a job. I told my colleague about it and he seemed surprised. Should I apologize?

Why is my p-value correlated to difference between means in two sample tests?

Spanish for "widget"

What could be the right powersource for 15 seconds lifespan disposable giant chainsaw?

Springs with some finite mass

Why don't Unix/Linux systems traverse through directories until they find the required version of a linked library?

Are USB sockets on wall outlets live all the time, even when the switch is off?

What does "rabbited" mean/imply in this sentence?

How to create dashed lines/arrows in Illustrator

Is three citations per paragraph excessive for undergraduate research paper?

What is the use of option -o in the useradd command?

Should I write numbers in words or as numerals when there are multiple next to each other?

Falsification in Math vs Science

How to reverse every other sublist of a list?

Where to refill my bottle in India?

Carnot-Caratheodory metric

How can I create a character who can assume the widest possible range of creature sizes?

Can't find the latex code for the ⍎ (down tack jot) symbol

Why is the maximum length of OpenWrt’s root password 8 characters?

What are the motivations for publishing new editions of an existing textbook, beyond new discoveries in a field?

What do hard-Brexiteers want with respect to the Irish border?



Can Medicine checks be used, with decent rolls, to completely mitigate the risk of death from ongoing damage?



The 2019 Stack Overflow Developer Survey Results Are InDoes a hit to a stabilized character count as a death saving failure?Death saving throws / critical hitsWhat is the probability of surviving my death saves?How else can I get Advantage on Death Saving Throws?Does Psychic Crush cause stunning on a successful save also?When stabilized, will receiving temporary hit points prevent failed Death Save when hit?How to resolve multiple 'start of turn' triggersDoes a failed Stabilize action count as a failed death saving throw?How to determine cause of death when Death Saving Throws fail due to an attack rather than a rollHow does Healing Spirit interact with death saving throws?



.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;








7












$begingroup$


Here is an example of the type of situation that brought up this question. Say a PC has been pinned under the foot of a massive animated stone statue. The PC in question is knocked unconscious by the initial damage and will take additional damage each round, forcing failed death saves, as the statue continues to crush them. A nearby ally succeeds at a Medicine check to stabilize the pinned character so they won't have to make a Death Saving Throw on their next turn. On their next turn the PC being crushed will take a small amount, and suffer a failed death save. An ally will then make another Medicine check, making them stable again. Rinse and repeat.



Under Stabilize A Creature in the 5E PHB it states




If healing is unavailable, the creature can at least be stabilized so that it isn't killed by a failed death saving throw.




This means that with a DC 10 Wisdom (Medicine) check you can stabilize someone even if they have already failed one or two death saving throws. There seems to be nothing to prevent an ally, or allies if the first one fails their Medicine check, from indefinitely eliminating the risk of death in this circumstance with ongoing first aid.



Can Medicine checks be used, with decent rolls, to completely mitigate the risk of death from ongoing damage?










share|improve this question











$endgroup$


















    7












    $begingroup$


    Here is an example of the type of situation that brought up this question. Say a PC has been pinned under the foot of a massive animated stone statue. The PC in question is knocked unconscious by the initial damage and will take additional damage each round, forcing failed death saves, as the statue continues to crush them. A nearby ally succeeds at a Medicine check to stabilize the pinned character so they won't have to make a Death Saving Throw on their next turn. On their next turn the PC being crushed will take a small amount, and suffer a failed death save. An ally will then make another Medicine check, making them stable again. Rinse and repeat.



    Under Stabilize A Creature in the 5E PHB it states




    If healing is unavailable, the creature can at least be stabilized so that it isn't killed by a failed death saving throw.




    This means that with a DC 10 Wisdom (Medicine) check you can stabilize someone even if they have already failed one or two death saving throws. There seems to be nothing to prevent an ally, or allies if the first one fails their Medicine check, from indefinitely eliminating the risk of death in this circumstance with ongoing first aid.



    Can Medicine checks be used, with decent rolls, to completely mitigate the risk of death from ongoing damage?










    share|improve this question











    $endgroup$














      7












      7








      7





      $begingroup$


      Here is an example of the type of situation that brought up this question. Say a PC has been pinned under the foot of a massive animated stone statue. The PC in question is knocked unconscious by the initial damage and will take additional damage each round, forcing failed death saves, as the statue continues to crush them. A nearby ally succeeds at a Medicine check to stabilize the pinned character so they won't have to make a Death Saving Throw on their next turn. On their next turn the PC being crushed will take a small amount, and suffer a failed death save. An ally will then make another Medicine check, making them stable again. Rinse and repeat.



      Under Stabilize A Creature in the 5E PHB it states




      If healing is unavailable, the creature can at least be stabilized so that it isn't killed by a failed death saving throw.




      This means that with a DC 10 Wisdom (Medicine) check you can stabilize someone even if they have already failed one or two death saving throws. There seems to be nothing to prevent an ally, or allies if the first one fails their Medicine check, from indefinitely eliminating the risk of death in this circumstance with ongoing first aid.



      Can Medicine checks be used, with decent rolls, to completely mitigate the risk of death from ongoing damage?










      share|improve this question











      $endgroup$




      Here is an example of the type of situation that brought up this question. Say a PC has been pinned under the foot of a massive animated stone statue. The PC in question is knocked unconscious by the initial damage and will take additional damage each round, forcing failed death saves, as the statue continues to crush them. A nearby ally succeeds at a Medicine check to stabilize the pinned character so they won't have to make a Death Saving Throw on their next turn. On their next turn the PC being crushed will take a small amount, and suffer a failed death save. An ally will then make another Medicine check, making them stable again. Rinse and repeat.



      Under Stabilize A Creature in the 5E PHB it states




      If healing is unavailable, the creature can at least be stabilized so that it isn't killed by a failed death saving throw.




      This means that with a DC 10 Wisdom (Medicine) check you can stabilize someone even if they have already failed one or two death saving throws. There seems to be nothing to prevent an ally, or allies if the first one fails their Medicine check, from indefinitely eliminating the risk of death in this circumstance with ongoing first aid.



      Can Medicine checks be used, with decent rolls, to completely mitigate the risk of death from ongoing damage?







      dnd-5e character-death






      share|improve this question















      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited 2 days ago









      V2Blast

      26.3k591161




      26.3k591161










      asked 2 days ago









      Shane WaldenShane Walden

      315212




      315212




















          3 Answers
          3






          active

          oldest

          votes


















          15












          $begingroup$

          Well Yes



          Relevant excerpts from the death saving throw rules...



          Regarding stabilization:




          The number of both [successes and failures] is reset to zero when you regain any hit points or become stable. . . . A stable creature doesn't make death saving throws, even though it has 0 hit points, . . .




          Regarding unstabilization:




          If you take any damage while you have 0 hit points, you suffer a death saving throw failure. . . . The creature stops being stable, and must start making death saving throws again, if it takes any damage.




          In summary:



          • A successful DC 10 Wisdom (Medicine) check will reset the number of failed death saving throws to zero and prevent additional death saving throws until damage is taken.

          • Only when that damage is taken do death saving throws commence once more.

          So at a very basic level, these Medicine checks can stave off death indefinitely since successful stabilization will reset the number of failed death saving throws



          But Actually No



          Your question asks whether the risk of death can be completely mitigated, and unfortunately bad luck can still kill the player because, again from the death saving throw rules:




          When you make a death saving throw and roll a 1 on the d20, it counts as two failures.




          If the stabilized party member is dealt damage by the statue, he/she will suffer one failed death save. Then if the party member is immediately next in initiative, he/she could roll a 1 on the death save roll and consequently die before anyone has a chance to attempt stabiliztion again.



           



          Additionally, your question states that the damage is coming from an




          animated stone statue




          If the statue is animated, then it might be making attack rolls depending on how sadistic your GM is. If an attack roll crits, the pinned character will suffer two failed death saving throws. And in this case it will, from the unconscious condition rules:




          Any attack that hits the creature is a critical hit if the attacker is within 5 feet of the creature.




          Then a third fail may occur on the character's turn if a party member is unable to stabilize him/her beforehand. Therefore, in this particular scenario (again, if the statue is making attack rolls in spite of low damage output), the character can die in a single round.






          share|improve this answer











          $endgroup$








          • 1




            $begingroup$
            I appreciate the answer and clarity. I didn't factor in other potential actions by the statue or the pinned character's allies because I wanted to focus the relationship between Medicine checks to stabilize and death saves. Thank you sir.
            $endgroup$
            – Shane Walden
            2 days ago






          • 2




            $begingroup$
            Probably worth adding that becoming stabilized has you regain 1 hit point after 1d4 hours (leaving you unconscious until then) and that any hit against an unconscious creature is a critical hit.
            $endgroup$
            – Someone_Evil
            yesterday










          • $begingroup$
            About the no part, the gm doesn't have to roll attacks. The same can happen if the character critically fails his death saving throw in his turn before someone had stabilzed him.
            $endgroup$
            – findusl
            yesterday










          • $begingroup$
            Good catch, friends—I'll add these points asap
            $endgroup$
            – convoliution
            yesterday


















          3












          $begingroup$

          Yes



          What you describe is correct. A successful Wisdom (Medicine) check "resets" the death save counter.



          But it costs you an Action



          The healers are spending their Action (or perhaps Bonus Action) stabilising their friend. This means that they aren't attacking or casting spells or grappling, and so on.



          It doesn't work with every source of potential death



          Note that some effects that cause death saves explicitly state that you can't be made stable until the effect is removed.



          For example, the suffocating rules state:




          …can't regain hit points or be stabilized until it can breathe again.







          share|improve this answer











          $endgroup$




















            1












            $begingroup$

            Not in this specific case



            Others answers deal very well with the mechanical aspects of Wisdom (Medicine) checks regarding death throws so I won't cover them in this answer.



            However I think it's important to remember that hit points and Wisdom throws are abstractions created by the rules, and the rules should be used at the discretion of the GM. The first tool you should use when making a ruling is your own logical sense.



            In this instance the player is not trying to make a Wisdom (Medicine) check at another player. That makes no sense. They are trying to heal their comrade's shattered ribs or crushed windpipe or whatever. Now I'm not a doctor or anything, but that seems pretty hard to achieve when the other character's chest is still being crushed by the statue!



            Therefore in this situation, I would rule that the medic ally cannot be allowed to try and heal their comrade, because the first step in healing a crushed chest is to remove the source of the crushing.






            share|improve this answer









            $endgroup$













              Your Answer





              StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function ()
              return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function ()
              StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix)
              StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["\$", "\$"]]);
              );
              );
              , "mathjax-editing");

              StackExchange.ready(function()
              var channelOptions =
              tags: "".split(" "),
              id: "122"
              ;
              initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

              StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function()
              // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
              if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled)
              StackExchange.using("snippets", function()
              createEditor();
              );

              else
              createEditor();

              );

              function createEditor()
              StackExchange.prepareEditor(
              heartbeatType: 'answer',
              autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
              convertImagesToLinks: false,
              noModals: true,
              showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
              reputationToPostImages: null,
              bindNavPrevention: true,
              postfix: "",
              imageUploader:
              brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
              contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
              allowUrls: true
              ,
              noCode: true, onDemand: true,
              discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
              ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
              );



              );













              draft saved

              draft discarded


















              StackExchange.ready(
              function ()
              StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2frpg.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f144751%2fcan-medicine-checks-be-used-with-decent-rolls-to-completely-mitigate-the-risk%23new-answer', 'question_page');

              );

              Post as a guest















              Required, but never shown

























              3 Answers
              3






              active

              oldest

              votes








              3 Answers
              3






              active

              oldest

              votes









              active

              oldest

              votes






              active

              oldest

              votes









              15












              $begingroup$

              Well Yes



              Relevant excerpts from the death saving throw rules...



              Regarding stabilization:




              The number of both [successes and failures] is reset to zero when you regain any hit points or become stable. . . . A stable creature doesn't make death saving throws, even though it has 0 hit points, . . .




              Regarding unstabilization:




              If you take any damage while you have 0 hit points, you suffer a death saving throw failure. . . . The creature stops being stable, and must start making death saving throws again, if it takes any damage.




              In summary:



              • A successful DC 10 Wisdom (Medicine) check will reset the number of failed death saving throws to zero and prevent additional death saving throws until damage is taken.

              • Only when that damage is taken do death saving throws commence once more.

              So at a very basic level, these Medicine checks can stave off death indefinitely since successful stabilization will reset the number of failed death saving throws



              But Actually No



              Your question asks whether the risk of death can be completely mitigated, and unfortunately bad luck can still kill the player because, again from the death saving throw rules:




              When you make a death saving throw and roll a 1 on the d20, it counts as two failures.




              If the stabilized party member is dealt damage by the statue, he/she will suffer one failed death save. Then if the party member is immediately next in initiative, he/she could roll a 1 on the death save roll and consequently die before anyone has a chance to attempt stabiliztion again.



               



              Additionally, your question states that the damage is coming from an




              animated stone statue




              If the statue is animated, then it might be making attack rolls depending on how sadistic your GM is. If an attack roll crits, the pinned character will suffer two failed death saving throws. And in this case it will, from the unconscious condition rules:




              Any attack that hits the creature is a critical hit if the attacker is within 5 feet of the creature.




              Then a third fail may occur on the character's turn if a party member is unable to stabilize him/her beforehand. Therefore, in this particular scenario (again, if the statue is making attack rolls in spite of low damage output), the character can die in a single round.






              share|improve this answer











              $endgroup$








              • 1




                $begingroup$
                I appreciate the answer and clarity. I didn't factor in other potential actions by the statue or the pinned character's allies because I wanted to focus the relationship between Medicine checks to stabilize and death saves. Thank you sir.
                $endgroup$
                – Shane Walden
                2 days ago






              • 2




                $begingroup$
                Probably worth adding that becoming stabilized has you regain 1 hit point after 1d4 hours (leaving you unconscious until then) and that any hit against an unconscious creature is a critical hit.
                $endgroup$
                – Someone_Evil
                yesterday










              • $begingroup$
                About the no part, the gm doesn't have to roll attacks. The same can happen if the character critically fails his death saving throw in his turn before someone had stabilzed him.
                $endgroup$
                – findusl
                yesterday










              • $begingroup$
                Good catch, friends—I'll add these points asap
                $endgroup$
                – convoliution
                yesterday















              15












              $begingroup$

              Well Yes



              Relevant excerpts from the death saving throw rules...



              Regarding stabilization:




              The number of both [successes and failures] is reset to zero when you regain any hit points or become stable. . . . A stable creature doesn't make death saving throws, even though it has 0 hit points, . . .




              Regarding unstabilization:




              If you take any damage while you have 0 hit points, you suffer a death saving throw failure. . . . The creature stops being stable, and must start making death saving throws again, if it takes any damage.




              In summary:



              • A successful DC 10 Wisdom (Medicine) check will reset the number of failed death saving throws to zero and prevent additional death saving throws until damage is taken.

              • Only when that damage is taken do death saving throws commence once more.

              So at a very basic level, these Medicine checks can stave off death indefinitely since successful stabilization will reset the number of failed death saving throws



              But Actually No



              Your question asks whether the risk of death can be completely mitigated, and unfortunately bad luck can still kill the player because, again from the death saving throw rules:




              When you make a death saving throw and roll a 1 on the d20, it counts as two failures.




              If the stabilized party member is dealt damage by the statue, he/she will suffer one failed death save. Then if the party member is immediately next in initiative, he/she could roll a 1 on the death save roll and consequently die before anyone has a chance to attempt stabiliztion again.



               



              Additionally, your question states that the damage is coming from an




              animated stone statue




              If the statue is animated, then it might be making attack rolls depending on how sadistic your GM is. If an attack roll crits, the pinned character will suffer two failed death saving throws. And in this case it will, from the unconscious condition rules:




              Any attack that hits the creature is a critical hit if the attacker is within 5 feet of the creature.




              Then a third fail may occur on the character's turn if a party member is unable to stabilize him/her beforehand. Therefore, in this particular scenario (again, if the statue is making attack rolls in spite of low damage output), the character can die in a single round.






              share|improve this answer











              $endgroup$








              • 1




                $begingroup$
                I appreciate the answer and clarity. I didn't factor in other potential actions by the statue or the pinned character's allies because I wanted to focus the relationship between Medicine checks to stabilize and death saves. Thank you sir.
                $endgroup$
                – Shane Walden
                2 days ago






              • 2




                $begingroup$
                Probably worth adding that becoming stabilized has you regain 1 hit point after 1d4 hours (leaving you unconscious until then) and that any hit against an unconscious creature is a critical hit.
                $endgroup$
                – Someone_Evil
                yesterday










              • $begingroup$
                About the no part, the gm doesn't have to roll attacks. The same can happen if the character critically fails his death saving throw in his turn before someone had stabilzed him.
                $endgroup$
                – findusl
                yesterday










              • $begingroup$
                Good catch, friends—I'll add these points asap
                $endgroup$
                – convoliution
                yesterday













              15












              15








              15





              $begingroup$

              Well Yes



              Relevant excerpts from the death saving throw rules...



              Regarding stabilization:




              The number of both [successes and failures] is reset to zero when you regain any hit points or become stable. . . . A stable creature doesn't make death saving throws, even though it has 0 hit points, . . .




              Regarding unstabilization:




              If you take any damage while you have 0 hit points, you suffer a death saving throw failure. . . . The creature stops being stable, and must start making death saving throws again, if it takes any damage.




              In summary:



              • A successful DC 10 Wisdom (Medicine) check will reset the number of failed death saving throws to zero and prevent additional death saving throws until damage is taken.

              • Only when that damage is taken do death saving throws commence once more.

              So at a very basic level, these Medicine checks can stave off death indefinitely since successful stabilization will reset the number of failed death saving throws



              But Actually No



              Your question asks whether the risk of death can be completely mitigated, and unfortunately bad luck can still kill the player because, again from the death saving throw rules:




              When you make a death saving throw and roll a 1 on the d20, it counts as two failures.




              If the stabilized party member is dealt damage by the statue, he/she will suffer one failed death save. Then if the party member is immediately next in initiative, he/she could roll a 1 on the death save roll and consequently die before anyone has a chance to attempt stabiliztion again.



               



              Additionally, your question states that the damage is coming from an




              animated stone statue




              If the statue is animated, then it might be making attack rolls depending on how sadistic your GM is. If an attack roll crits, the pinned character will suffer two failed death saving throws. And in this case it will, from the unconscious condition rules:




              Any attack that hits the creature is a critical hit if the attacker is within 5 feet of the creature.




              Then a third fail may occur on the character's turn if a party member is unable to stabilize him/her beforehand. Therefore, in this particular scenario (again, if the statue is making attack rolls in spite of low damage output), the character can die in a single round.






              share|improve this answer











              $endgroup$



              Well Yes



              Relevant excerpts from the death saving throw rules...



              Regarding stabilization:




              The number of both [successes and failures] is reset to zero when you regain any hit points or become stable. . . . A stable creature doesn't make death saving throws, even though it has 0 hit points, . . .




              Regarding unstabilization:




              If you take any damage while you have 0 hit points, you suffer a death saving throw failure. . . . The creature stops being stable, and must start making death saving throws again, if it takes any damage.




              In summary:



              • A successful DC 10 Wisdom (Medicine) check will reset the number of failed death saving throws to zero and prevent additional death saving throws until damage is taken.

              • Only when that damage is taken do death saving throws commence once more.

              So at a very basic level, these Medicine checks can stave off death indefinitely since successful stabilization will reset the number of failed death saving throws



              But Actually No



              Your question asks whether the risk of death can be completely mitigated, and unfortunately bad luck can still kill the player because, again from the death saving throw rules:




              When you make a death saving throw and roll a 1 on the d20, it counts as two failures.




              If the stabilized party member is dealt damage by the statue, he/she will suffer one failed death save. Then if the party member is immediately next in initiative, he/she could roll a 1 on the death save roll and consequently die before anyone has a chance to attempt stabiliztion again.



               



              Additionally, your question states that the damage is coming from an




              animated stone statue




              If the statue is animated, then it might be making attack rolls depending on how sadistic your GM is. If an attack roll crits, the pinned character will suffer two failed death saving throws. And in this case it will, from the unconscious condition rules:




              Any attack that hits the creature is a critical hit if the attacker is within 5 feet of the creature.




              Then a third fail may occur on the character's turn if a party member is unable to stabilize him/her beforehand. Therefore, in this particular scenario (again, if the statue is making attack rolls in spite of low damage output), the character can die in a single round.







              share|improve this answer














              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer








              edited yesterday

























              answered 2 days ago









              convoliutionconvoliution

              1,083618




              1,083618







              • 1




                $begingroup$
                I appreciate the answer and clarity. I didn't factor in other potential actions by the statue or the pinned character's allies because I wanted to focus the relationship between Medicine checks to stabilize and death saves. Thank you sir.
                $endgroup$
                – Shane Walden
                2 days ago






              • 2




                $begingroup$
                Probably worth adding that becoming stabilized has you regain 1 hit point after 1d4 hours (leaving you unconscious until then) and that any hit against an unconscious creature is a critical hit.
                $endgroup$
                – Someone_Evil
                yesterday










              • $begingroup$
                About the no part, the gm doesn't have to roll attacks. The same can happen if the character critically fails his death saving throw in his turn before someone had stabilzed him.
                $endgroup$
                – findusl
                yesterday










              • $begingroup$
                Good catch, friends—I'll add these points asap
                $endgroup$
                – convoliution
                yesterday












              • 1




                $begingroup$
                I appreciate the answer and clarity. I didn't factor in other potential actions by the statue or the pinned character's allies because I wanted to focus the relationship between Medicine checks to stabilize and death saves. Thank you sir.
                $endgroup$
                – Shane Walden
                2 days ago






              • 2




                $begingroup$
                Probably worth adding that becoming stabilized has you regain 1 hit point after 1d4 hours (leaving you unconscious until then) and that any hit against an unconscious creature is a critical hit.
                $endgroup$
                – Someone_Evil
                yesterday










              • $begingroup$
                About the no part, the gm doesn't have to roll attacks. The same can happen if the character critically fails his death saving throw in his turn before someone had stabilzed him.
                $endgroup$
                – findusl
                yesterday










              • $begingroup$
                Good catch, friends—I'll add these points asap
                $endgroup$
                – convoliution
                yesterday







              1




              1




              $begingroup$
              I appreciate the answer and clarity. I didn't factor in other potential actions by the statue or the pinned character's allies because I wanted to focus the relationship between Medicine checks to stabilize and death saves. Thank you sir.
              $endgroup$
              – Shane Walden
              2 days ago




              $begingroup$
              I appreciate the answer and clarity. I didn't factor in other potential actions by the statue or the pinned character's allies because I wanted to focus the relationship between Medicine checks to stabilize and death saves. Thank you sir.
              $endgroup$
              – Shane Walden
              2 days ago




              2




              2




              $begingroup$
              Probably worth adding that becoming stabilized has you regain 1 hit point after 1d4 hours (leaving you unconscious until then) and that any hit against an unconscious creature is a critical hit.
              $endgroup$
              – Someone_Evil
              yesterday




              $begingroup$
              Probably worth adding that becoming stabilized has you regain 1 hit point after 1d4 hours (leaving you unconscious until then) and that any hit against an unconscious creature is a critical hit.
              $endgroup$
              – Someone_Evil
              yesterday












              $begingroup$
              About the no part, the gm doesn't have to roll attacks. The same can happen if the character critically fails his death saving throw in his turn before someone had stabilzed him.
              $endgroup$
              – findusl
              yesterday




              $begingroup$
              About the no part, the gm doesn't have to roll attacks. The same can happen if the character critically fails his death saving throw in his turn before someone had stabilzed him.
              $endgroup$
              – findusl
              yesterday












              $begingroup$
              Good catch, friends—I'll add these points asap
              $endgroup$
              – convoliution
              yesterday




              $begingroup$
              Good catch, friends—I'll add these points asap
              $endgroup$
              – convoliution
              yesterday













              3












              $begingroup$

              Yes



              What you describe is correct. A successful Wisdom (Medicine) check "resets" the death save counter.



              But it costs you an Action



              The healers are spending their Action (or perhaps Bonus Action) stabilising their friend. This means that they aren't attacking or casting spells or grappling, and so on.



              It doesn't work with every source of potential death



              Note that some effects that cause death saves explicitly state that you can't be made stable until the effect is removed.



              For example, the suffocating rules state:




              …can't regain hit points or be stabilized until it can breathe again.







              share|improve this answer











              $endgroup$

















                3












                $begingroup$

                Yes



                What you describe is correct. A successful Wisdom (Medicine) check "resets" the death save counter.



                But it costs you an Action



                The healers are spending their Action (or perhaps Bonus Action) stabilising their friend. This means that they aren't attacking or casting spells or grappling, and so on.



                It doesn't work with every source of potential death



                Note that some effects that cause death saves explicitly state that you can't be made stable until the effect is removed.



                For example, the suffocating rules state:




                …can't regain hit points or be stabilized until it can breathe again.







                share|improve this answer











                $endgroup$















                  3












                  3








                  3





                  $begingroup$

                  Yes



                  What you describe is correct. A successful Wisdom (Medicine) check "resets" the death save counter.



                  But it costs you an Action



                  The healers are spending their Action (or perhaps Bonus Action) stabilising their friend. This means that they aren't attacking or casting spells or grappling, and so on.



                  It doesn't work with every source of potential death



                  Note that some effects that cause death saves explicitly state that you can't be made stable until the effect is removed.



                  For example, the suffocating rules state:




                  …can't regain hit points or be stabilized until it can breathe again.







                  share|improve this answer











                  $endgroup$



                  Yes



                  What you describe is correct. A successful Wisdom (Medicine) check "resets" the death save counter.



                  But it costs you an Action



                  The healers are spending their Action (or perhaps Bonus Action) stabilising their friend. This means that they aren't attacking or casting spells or grappling, and so on.



                  It doesn't work with every source of potential death



                  Note that some effects that cause death saves explicitly state that you can't be made stable until the effect is removed.



                  For example, the suffocating rules state:




                  …can't regain hit points or be stabilized until it can breathe again.








                  share|improve this answer














                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer








                  edited yesterday









                  V2Blast

                  26.3k591161




                  26.3k591161










                  answered yesterday









                  Greenstone WalkerGreenstone Walker

                  14.8k3170




                  14.8k3170





















                      1












                      $begingroup$

                      Not in this specific case



                      Others answers deal very well with the mechanical aspects of Wisdom (Medicine) checks regarding death throws so I won't cover them in this answer.



                      However I think it's important to remember that hit points and Wisdom throws are abstractions created by the rules, and the rules should be used at the discretion of the GM. The first tool you should use when making a ruling is your own logical sense.



                      In this instance the player is not trying to make a Wisdom (Medicine) check at another player. That makes no sense. They are trying to heal their comrade's shattered ribs or crushed windpipe or whatever. Now I'm not a doctor or anything, but that seems pretty hard to achieve when the other character's chest is still being crushed by the statue!



                      Therefore in this situation, I would rule that the medic ally cannot be allowed to try and heal their comrade, because the first step in healing a crushed chest is to remove the source of the crushing.






                      share|improve this answer









                      $endgroup$

















                        1












                        $begingroup$

                        Not in this specific case



                        Others answers deal very well with the mechanical aspects of Wisdom (Medicine) checks regarding death throws so I won't cover them in this answer.



                        However I think it's important to remember that hit points and Wisdom throws are abstractions created by the rules, and the rules should be used at the discretion of the GM. The first tool you should use when making a ruling is your own logical sense.



                        In this instance the player is not trying to make a Wisdom (Medicine) check at another player. That makes no sense. They are trying to heal their comrade's shattered ribs or crushed windpipe or whatever. Now I'm not a doctor or anything, but that seems pretty hard to achieve when the other character's chest is still being crushed by the statue!



                        Therefore in this situation, I would rule that the medic ally cannot be allowed to try and heal their comrade, because the first step in healing a crushed chest is to remove the source of the crushing.






                        share|improve this answer









                        $endgroup$















                          1












                          1








                          1





                          $begingroup$

                          Not in this specific case



                          Others answers deal very well with the mechanical aspects of Wisdom (Medicine) checks regarding death throws so I won't cover them in this answer.



                          However I think it's important to remember that hit points and Wisdom throws are abstractions created by the rules, and the rules should be used at the discretion of the GM. The first tool you should use when making a ruling is your own logical sense.



                          In this instance the player is not trying to make a Wisdom (Medicine) check at another player. That makes no sense. They are trying to heal their comrade's shattered ribs or crushed windpipe or whatever. Now I'm not a doctor or anything, but that seems pretty hard to achieve when the other character's chest is still being crushed by the statue!



                          Therefore in this situation, I would rule that the medic ally cannot be allowed to try and heal their comrade, because the first step in healing a crushed chest is to remove the source of the crushing.






                          share|improve this answer









                          $endgroup$



                          Not in this specific case



                          Others answers deal very well with the mechanical aspects of Wisdom (Medicine) checks regarding death throws so I won't cover them in this answer.



                          However I think it's important to remember that hit points and Wisdom throws are abstractions created by the rules, and the rules should be used at the discretion of the GM. The first tool you should use when making a ruling is your own logical sense.



                          In this instance the player is not trying to make a Wisdom (Medicine) check at another player. That makes no sense. They are trying to heal their comrade's shattered ribs or crushed windpipe or whatever. Now I'm not a doctor or anything, but that seems pretty hard to achieve when the other character's chest is still being crushed by the statue!



                          Therefore in this situation, I would rule that the medic ally cannot be allowed to try and heal their comrade, because the first step in healing a crushed chest is to remove the source of the crushing.







                          share|improve this answer












                          share|improve this answer



                          share|improve this answer










                          answered yesterday









                          Pierre CathéPierre Cathé

                          2035




                          2035



























                              draft saved

                              draft discarded
















































                              Thanks for contributing an answer to Role-playing Games Stack Exchange!


                              • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

                              But avoid


                              • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

                              • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.

                              Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.


                              To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




                              draft saved


                              draft discarded














                              StackExchange.ready(
                              function ()
                              StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2frpg.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f144751%2fcan-medicine-checks-be-used-with-decent-rolls-to-completely-mitigate-the-risk%23new-answer', 'question_page');

                              );

                              Post as a guest















                              Required, but never shown





















































                              Required, but never shown














                              Required, but never shown












                              Required, but never shown







                              Required, but never shown

































                              Required, but never shown














                              Required, but never shown












                              Required, but never shown







                              Required, but never shown







                              Popular posts from this blog

                              Tamil (spriik) Luke uk diar | Nawigatjuun

                              Align equal signs while including text over equalitiesAMS align: left aligned text/math plus multicolumn alignmentMultiple alignmentsAligning equations in multiple placesNumbering and aligning an equation with multiple columnsHow to align one equation with another multline equationUsing \ in environments inside the begintabularxNumber equations and preserving alignment of equal signsHow can I align equations to the left and to the right?Double equation alignment problem within align enviromentAligned within align: Why are they right-aligned?

                              Training a classifier when some of the features are unknownWhy does Gradient Boosting regression predict negative values when there are no negative y-values in my training set?How to improve an existing (trained) classifier?What is effect when I set up some self defined predisctor variables?Why Matlab neural network classification returns decimal values on prediction dataset?Fitting and transforming text data in training, testing, and validation setsHow to quantify the performance of the classifier (multi-class SVM) using the test data?How do I control for some patients providing multiple samples in my training data?Training and Test setTraining a convolutional neural network for image denoising in MatlabShouldn't an autoencoder with #(neurons in hidden layer) = #(neurons in input layer) be “perfect”?