Monday, April 15, 2013

Reactions to an Unconscious Foe

Short post today.

My players are knocked unconscious a lot. I consequently struggle with how a combatant, in the heat of battle, reacts to an enemy being thrown to the ground, apparently lifeless. I'd rather not make ad hoc decisions about whether or not a killing blow is delivered, so I'll make a random table instead.

First of all, I require a wisdom check from the combatant in question to know if a character is dead. If they think the character is dead, they will subsequently ignore them. Most of the following tables assume that death (not capture) is the goal of the combatants.

Mook (0-level human or demi-human combatant)

Still in the first six rounds of combat:
 - more than 50% of opposing force remains: 20% chance of decision to kill
 - less than 50% of opposing force remains: 70% chance of decision to kill
In the seventh round or later:

 - more than 50% of opposing force remains: 5% chance of decision to kill
 - less than 50% of opposing force remains: 50% chance of decision to kill

Humanoid

Still in the first six rounds of combat:
 - more than 50% of opposing force remains: 30% chance of decision to kill
 - less than 50% of opposing force remains: 80% chance of decision to kill
In the seventh round or later:

 - more than 50% of opposing force remains: 15% chance of decision to kill
 - less than 50% of opposing force remains: 60% chance of decision to kill

Monster (hungry, animal intelligence)

Will always start eating an unconscious character

Monster (pissed off, animal intelligence)
15% chance of decision to kill, out of dull spite

Leveled NPC/Intelligent Monster

Still in the first six rounds of combat:
 - more than 50% of opposing force remains: 20% chance of decision to kill
 - less than 50% of opposing force remains: 80% chance of decision to kill
In the seventh round or later:

 - more than 50% of opposing force remains: 10% chance of decision to kill
 - less than 50% of opposing force remains: 60% chance of decision to kill
[if the opposing party is known to have a cleric, increase above percentages by 15%]

I may edit this post later if I come up with different ways to handle this, or invent more situations.






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