Mixing
Psychic Scream - Healing after your head explodes?
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By request I'm DMing an adventure with a lot of H.P. Lovecraft overtones, and the party has encountered the Big-Bad-Guy tentacle horror, a twenty foot Obyrith I've styled after the Far Realms Glothoma. It's nearly out of hit points, and I'd like it to cast one final spell without a TPK, but I'm worried I've chosen the wrong one due to the flavor text.
Psychic Scream Each target must make an Intelligence saving throw. On a failed save,
a target takes 14d6 psychic damage and is stunned. On a successful
save, a target takes half as much damage and isn’t stunned. If a
target is killed by this damage, its head explodes, assuming it has
one.
Could someone parse this out for me? If a player takes enough damage to hit zero hitpoints, are they "dead" as far as this spell is concerned, suffering the homage to the movie Scanners, with the full head popping effect -- or is dead only dead when they either fail enough death saving throws, or die instantly from the Massive Damage rule? I ask because despite having two war clerics in their party they're only level six which means the best they can respond with is Revivify which can't restore missing body parts.
Revivify You touch a creature that has died within the last
minute. That creature returns to life with 1 hit point. This spell
can't return to life a creature that has died of old age, nor can it
restore any missing body parts.
dnd-5e spells character-death resurrection
edited 1 hour ago
Slagmoth
16k14290
asked 1 hour ago
AshRandom
1,92911035
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
By request I'm DMing an adventure with a lot of H.P. Lovecraft overtones, and the party has encountered the Big-Bad-Guy tentacle horror, a twenty foot Obyrith I've styled after the Far Realms Glothoma. It's nearly out of hit points, and I'd like it to cast one final spell without a TPK, but I'm worried I've chosen the wrong one due to the flavor text.
Psychic Scream Each target must make an Intelligence saving throw. On a failed save,
a target takes 14d6 psychic damage and is stunned. On a successful
save, a target takes half as much damage and isn’t stunned. If a
target is killed by this damage, its head explodes, assuming it has
one.
Could someone parse this out for me? If a player takes enough damage to hit zero hitpoints, are they "dead" as far as this spell is concerned, suffering the homage to the movie Scanners, with the full head popping effect -- or is dead only dead when they either fail enough death saving throws, or die instantly from the Massive Damage rule? I ask because despite having two war clerics in their party they're only level six which means the best they can respond with is Revivify which can't restore missing body parts.
Revivify You touch a creature that has died within the last
minute. That creature returns to life with 1 hit point. This spell
can't return to life a creature that has died of old age, nor can it
restore any missing body parts.
dnd-5e spells character-death resurrection
edited 1 hour ago
Slagmoth
16k14290
asked 1 hour ago
AshRandom
1,92911035
3
Related: Does Finger of Death turn you into a zombie if it drops you to 0hp?
– GreySage
1 hour ago
Possible dupe of rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/127866/…
– firedraco
1 hour ago
1
@firedraco It's not a dupe, as this isn't the same attack.
– Mark Wells
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
By request I'm DMing an adventure with a lot of H.P. Lovecraft overtones, and the party has encountered the Big-Bad-Guy tentacle horror, a twenty foot Obyrith I've styled after the Far Realms Glothoma. It's nearly out of hit points, and I'd like it to cast one final spell without a TPK, but I'm worried I've chosen the wrong one due to the flavor text.
Psychic Scream Each target must make an Intelligence saving throw. On a failed save,
a target takes 14d6 psychic damage and is stunned. On a successful
save, a target takes half as much damage and isn’t stunned. If a
target is killed by this damage, its head explodes, assuming it has
one.
Could someone parse this out for me? If a player takes enough damage to hit zero hitpoints, are they "dead" as far as this spell is concerned, suffering the homage to the movie Scanners, with the full head popping effect -- or is dead only dead when they either fail enough death saving throws, or die instantly from the Massive Damage rule? I ask because despite having two war clerics in their party they're only level six which means the best they can respond with is Revivify which can't restore missing body parts.
Revivify You touch a creature that has died within the last
minute. That creature returns to life with 1 hit point. This spell
can't return to life a creature that has died of old age, nor can it
restore any missing body parts.
dnd-5e spells character-death resurrection
edited 1 hour ago
Slagmoth
16k14290
asked 1 hour ago
AshRandom
1,92911035
By request I'm DMing an adventure with a lot of H.P. Lovecraft overtones, and the party has encountered the Big-Bad-Guy tentacle horror, a twenty foot Obyrith I've styled after the Far Realms Glothoma. It's nearly out of hit points, and I'd like it to cast one final spell without a TPK, but I'm worried I've chosen the wrong one due to the flavor text.
Psychic Scream Each target must make an Intelligence saving throw. On a failed save,
a target takes 14d6 psychic damage and is stunned. On a successful
save, a target takes half as much damage and isn’t stunned. If a
target is killed by this damage, its head explodes, assuming it has
one.
Could someone parse this out for me? If a player takes enough damage to hit zero hitpoints, are they "dead" as far as this spell is concerned, suffering the homage to the movie Scanners, with the full head popping effect -- or is dead only dead when they either fail enough death saving throws, or die instantly from the Massive Damage rule? I ask because despite having two war clerics in their party they're only level six which means the best they can respond with is Revivify which can't restore missing body parts.
Revivify You touch a creature that has died within the last
minute. That creature returns to life with 1 hit point. This spell
can't return to life a creature that has died of old age, nor can it
restore any missing body parts.
dnd-5e spells character-death resurrection
dnd-5e spells character-death resurrection
edited 1 hour ago
Slagmoth
16k14290
asked 1 hour ago
AshRandom
1,92911035
edited 1 hour ago
Slagmoth
16k14290
asked 1 hour ago
AshRandom
1,92911035
edited 1 hour ago
Slagmoth
16k14290
edited 1 hour ago
Slagmoth
16k14290
edited 1 hour ago
Slagmoth
16k14290
16k14290
asked 1 hour ago
AshRandom
1,92911035
asked 1 hour ago
AshRandom
1,92911035
asked 1 hour ago
AshRandom
1,92911035
1,92911035
3
Related: Does Finger of Death turn you into a zombie if it drops you to 0hp?
– GreySage
1 hour ago
Possible dupe of rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/127866/…
– firedraco
1 hour ago
1
@firedraco It's not a dupe, as this isn't the same attack.
– Mark Wells
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
3
Related: Does Finger of Death turn you into a zombie if it drops you to 0hp?
– GreySage
1 hour ago
Possible dupe of rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/127866/…
– firedraco
1 hour ago
1
@firedraco It's not a dupe, as this isn't the same attack.
– Mark Wells
1 hour ago
3
3
Related: Does Finger of Death turn you into a zombie if it drops you to 0hp?
– GreySage
1 hour ago
Related: Does Finger of Death turn you into a zombie if it drops you to 0hp?
– GreySage
1 hour ago
Possible dupe of rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/127866/…
– firedraco
1 hour ago
Possible dupe of rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/127866/…
– firedraco
1 hour ago
1
1
@firedraco It's not a dupe, as this isn't the same attack.
– Mark Wells
1 hour ago
@firedraco It's not a dupe, as this isn't the same attack.
– Mark Wells
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
up vote
4
down vote
Killed by this damage isn't the same as reduced to 0
Monsters and PCs generally operate with slightly different rules regarding death. For most monsters, hitting 0 hit points means they die unless the DM intervenes to give them death saving throws. Players always operate per the the standard rules for Instant Death (PHB pg. 197):
When damage reduces you to 0 hit points and there is damage remaining, you die if the remaining damage equals or exceeds your hit point maximum.
Thus, players' heads only start exploding if they take enough damage to kill them outright. For the average PC Wizard at 6th level (assumes 14 Con) this would be about 35 damage past 0. On average, Psychic Scream does 49 damage or 24 if the save is successful.
Presumably the players are going to be smacked around a fair bit when this effect goes off, so this spell may well be in the realm of Save or Die for the more fragile characters. For the other characters, though, a successful save is still going to deal enough damage to potentially down them as well if it happens at the end of the fight.
Provided you're ok with players struggling on lots of death saves (totally reasonable with a Lovecraft theme, I think) then I think you'll be fine.
answered 1 hour ago
Pyrotechnical
12.8k349123
I think the question is whether, if they fail their death saves and die a few rounds later, they are still "killed by this damage" and their heads explode.
– Mark Wells
1 hour ago
Assuming 16 Con (War clerics might be a bit beefier) and an average hit point roll of 5, the clerics are going to have 48 health when topped off. Int isn't an automatic proficient save for them; expected modifier is +5 if proficient, +2 if not - likely lower, because Int is a low-priority stat for clerics. At 49 average damage per scream, they're each going to die outright ~1/4 of the time (~50% save chance * ~50% damage average). That seems a little harsh - personally, I'd give them a round of notice, as they have several spells that might help prevent outright death (eg. Resistance)
– Punintended
1 hour ago
@Punintended, a character would need to have a maximum health of 24 or lower to die outright from full health to the scream. The massive damage rule is only if the damage past zero exceeds your maximum health
– Speedkat
19 mins ago
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
4
down vote
Killed by this damage isn't the same as reduced to 0
Monsters and PCs generally operate with slightly different rules regarding death. For most monsters, hitting 0 hit points means they die unless the DM intervenes to give them death saving throws. Players always operate per the the standard rules for Instant Death (PHB pg. 197):
When damage reduces you to 0 hit points and there is damage remaining, you die if the remaining damage equals or exceeds your hit point maximum.
Thus, players' heads only start exploding if they take enough damage to kill them outright. For the average PC Wizard at 6th level (assumes 14 Con) this would be about 35 damage past 0. On average, Psychic Scream does 49 damage or 24 if the save is successful.
Presumably the players are going to be smacked around a fair bit when this effect goes off, so this spell may well be in the realm of Save or Die for the more fragile characters. For the other characters, though, a successful save is still going to deal enough damage to potentially down them as well if it happens at the end of the fight.
Provided you're ok with players struggling on lots of death saves (totally reasonable with a Lovecraft theme, I think) then I think you'll be fine.
answered 1 hour ago
Pyrotechnical
12.8k349123
I think the question is whether, if they fail their death saves and die a few rounds later, they are still "killed by this damage" and their heads explode.
– Mark Wells
1 hour ago
Assuming 16 Con (War clerics might be a bit beefier) and an average hit point roll of 5, the clerics are going to have 48 health when topped off. Int isn't an automatic proficient save for them; expected modifier is +5 if proficient, +2 if not - likely lower, because Int is a low-priority stat for clerics. At 49 average damage per scream, they're each going to die outright ~1/4 of the time (~50% save chance * ~50% damage average). That seems a little harsh - personally, I'd give them a round of notice, as they have several spells that might help prevent outright death (eg. Resistance)
– Punintended
1 hour ago
@Punintended, a character would need to have a maximum health of 24 or lower to die outright from full health to the scream. The massive damage rule is only if the damage past zero exceeds your maximum health
– Speedkat
19 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
Killed by this damage isn't the same as reduced to 0
Monsters and PCs generally operate with slightly different rules regarding death. For most monsters, hitting 0 hit points means they die unless the DM intervenes to give them death saving throws. Players always operate per the the standard rules for Instant Death (PHB pg. 197):
When damage reduces you to 0 hit points and there is damage remaining, you die if the remaining damage equals or exceeds your hit point maximum.
Thus, players' heads only start exploding if they take enough damage to kill them outright. For the average PC Wizard at 6th level (assumes 14 Con) this would be about 35 damage past 0. On average, Psychic Scream does 49 damage or 24 if the save is successful.
Presumably the players are going to be smacked around a fair bit when this effect goes off, so this spell may well be in the realm of Save or Die for the more fragile characters. For the other characters, though, a successful save is still going to deal enough damage to potentially down them as well if it happens at the end of the fight.
Provided you're ok with players struggling on lots of death saves (totally reasonable with a Lovecraft theme, I think) then I think you'll be fine.
answered 1 hour ago
Pyrotechnical
12.8k349123
I think the question is whether, if they fail their death saves and die a few rounds later, they are still "killed by this damage" and their heads explode.
– Mark Wells
1 hour ago
Assuming 16 Con (War clerics might be a bit beefier) and an average hit point roll of 5, the clerics are going to have 48 health when topped off. Int isn't an automatic proficient save for them; expected modifier is +5 if proficient, +2 if not - likely lower, because Int is a low-priority stat for clerics. At 49 average damage per scream, they're each going to die outright ~1/4 of the time (~50% save chance * ~50% damage average). That seems a little harsh - personally, I'd give them a round of notice, as they have several spells that might help prevent outright death (eg. Resistance)
– Punintended
1 hour ago
@Punintended, a character would need to have a maximum health of 24 or lower to die outright from full health to the scream. The massive damage rule is only if the damage past zero exceeds your maximum health
– Speedkat
19 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
up vote
4
down vote
Killed by this damage isn't the same as reduced to 0
Monsters and PCs generally operate with slightly different rules regarding death. For most monsters, hitting 0 hit points means they die unless the DM intervenes to give them death saving throws. Players always operate per the the standard rules for Instant Death (PHB pg. 197):
When damage reduces you to 0 hit points and there is damage remaining, you die if the remaining damage equals or exceeds your hit point maximum.
Thus, players' heads only start exploding if they take enough damage to kill them outright. For the average PC Wizard at 6th level (assumes 14 Con) this would be about 35 damage past 0. On average, Psychic Scream does 49 damage or 24 if the save is successful.
Presumably the players are going to be smacked around a fair bit when this effect goes off, so this spell may well be in the realm of Save or Die for the more fragile characters. For the other characters, though, a successful save is still going to deal enough damage to potentially down them as well if it happens at the end of the fight.
Provided you're ok with players struggling on lots of death saves (totally reasonable with a Lovecraft theme, I think) then I think you'll be fine.
answered 1 hour ago
Pyrotechnical
12.8k349123
Killed by this damage isn't the same as reduced to 0
Monsters and PCs generally operate with slightly different rules regarding death. For most monsters, hitting 0 hit points means they die unless the DM intervenes to give them death saving throws. Players always operate per the the standard rules for Instant Death (PHB pg. 197):
When damage reduces you to 0 hit points and there is damage remaining, you die if the remaining damage equals or exceeds your hit point maximum.
Thus, players' heads only start exploding if they take enough damage to kill them outright. For the average PC Wizard at 6th level (assumes 14 Con) this would be about 35 damage past 0. On average, Psychic Scream does 49 damage or 24 if the save is successful.
Presumably the players are going to be smacked around a fair bit when this effect goes off, so this spell may well be in the realm of Save or Die for the more fragile characters. For the other characters, though, a successful save is still going to deal enough damage to potentially down them as well if it happens at the end of the fight.
Provided you're ok with players struggling on lots of death saves (totally reasonable with a Lovecraft theme, I think) then I think you'll be fine.
answered 1 hour ago
Pyrotechnical
12.8k349123
answered 1 hour ago
Pyrotechnical
12.8k349123
answered 1 hour ago
Pyrotechnical
12.8k349123
answered 1 hour ago
Pyrotechnical
12.8k349123
12.8k349123
I think the question is whether, if they fail their death saves and die a few rounds later, they are still "killed by this damage" and their heads explode.
– Mark Wells
1 hour ago
Assuming 16 Con (War clerics might be a bit beefier) and an average hit point roll of 5, the clerics are going to have 48 health when topped off. Int isn't an automatic proficient save for them; expected modifier is +5 if proficient, +2 if not - likely lower, because Int is a low-priority stat for clerics. At 49 average damage per scream, they're each going to die outright ~1/4 of the time (~50% save chance * ~50% damage average). That seems a little harsh - personally, I'd give them a round of notice, as they have several spells that might help prevent outright death (eg. Resistance)
– Punintended
1 hour ago
@Punintended, a character would need to have a maximum health of 24 or lower to die outright from full health to the scream. The massive damage rule is only if the damage past zero exceeds your maximum health
– Speedkat
19 mins ago
add a comment |Â
I think the question is whether, if they fail their death saves and die a few rounds later, they are still "killed by this damage" and their heads explode.
– Mark Wells
1 hour ago
Assuming 16 Con (War clerics might be a bit beefier) and an average hit point roll of 5, the clerics are going to have 48 health when topped off. Int isn't an automatic proficient save for them; expected modifier is +5 if proficient, +2 if not - likely lower, because Int is a low-priority stat for clerics. At 49 average damage per scream, they're each going to die outright ~1/4 of the time (~50% save chance * ~50% damage average). That seems a little harsh - personally, I'd give them a round of notice, as they have several spells that might help prevent outright death (eg. Resistance)
– Punintended
1 hour ago
@Punintended, a character would need to have a maximum health of 24 or lower to die outright from full health to the scream. The massive damage rule is only if the damage past zero exceeds your maximum health
– Speedkat
19 mins ago
I think the question is whether, if they fail their death saves and die a few rounds later, they are still "killed by this damage" and their heads explode.
– Mark Wells
1 hour ago
I think the question is whether, if they fail their death saves and die a few rounds later, they are still "killed by this damage" and their heads explode.
– Mark Wells
1 hour ago
Assuming 16 Con (War clerics might be a bit beefier) and an average hit point roll of 5, the clerics are going to have 48 health when topped off. Int isn't an automatic proficient save for them; expected modifier is +5 if proficient, +2 if not - likely lower, because Int is a low-priority stat for clerics. At 49 average damage per scream, they're each going to die outright ~1/4 of the time (~50% save chance * ~50% damage average). That seems a little harsh - personally, I'd give them a round of notice, as they have several spells that might help prevent outright death (eg. Resistance)
– Punintended
1 hour ago
Assuming 16 Con (War clerics might be a bit beefier) and an average hit point roll of 5, the clerics are going to have 48 health when topped off. Int isn't an automatic proficient save for them; expected modifier is +5 if proficient, +2 if not - likely lower, because Int is a low-priority stat for clerics. At 49 average damage per scream, they're each going to die outright ~1/4 of the time (~50% save chance * ~50% damage average). That seems a little harsh - personally, I'd give them a round of notice, as they have several spells that might help prevent outright death (eg. Resistance)
– Punintended
1 hour ago
@Punintended, a character would need to have a maximum health of 24 or lower to die outright from full health to the scream. The massive damage rule is only if the damage past zero exceeds your maximum health
– Speedkat
19 mins ago
@Punintended, a character would need to have a maximum health of 24 or lower to die outright from full health to the scream. The massive damage rule is only if the damage past zero exceeds your maximum health
– Speedkat
19 mins ago
add a comment |Â
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3
Related: Does Finger of Death turn you into a zombie if it drops you to 0hp?
– GreySage
1 hour ago
Possible dupe of rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/127866/…
– firedraco
1 hour ago
1
@firedraco It's not a dupe, as this isn't the same attack.
– Mark Wells
1 hour ago