Subdual Damage

[Archaelos]

I realized last night I had mistake with regards to how subdual damage works with d20 Modern. I was using the D&D 3.x version where non-lethal damage stacks up, and once you have more non-lethal damage done than you have hit points, you fall unconscious, and stay that way until you've recovered enough (1 per lvl per hour) non-lethal hitpoints to not be over your total anymore.

d20 Modern non-lethal damage doesn't work that way. By RAW, when someone deals enough non-lethal damage (in a single blow) to exceed your massive damage threshhold, you roll fort vs. DC 15. A save means you're dazed one round. A fail means you're unconscious 1d4+1 round.

These are two significantly different views on non-lethal damage.

Does anyone have a significant preference for which of these two rules we use?

[Chimaera]

Whichever one makes Niko look less like a pussy.

:D

Seriously, though, I'm thinking the massive-damage save version makes more sense.

[Origen]

Massive Damage saves seem to play a pretty key part in combat, right now. In nearly every major combat, we've seen one member of our party go down to one. I'm inclined toward the more lenient one, which is already built into d20 Modern, simply because it gives you a CHANCE to get up and participate again. Whereas, otherwise, it simply becomes another way of instakilling you.

If we go with the D&D ruling, for example, Niko doesn't even need to show up for the next session. D&D assumes you are going to have a cleric or some sort of instant healing available, which is why the whole "Out for days at a time" thing doesn't really affect you. Tanks in 3.X D&D are capable of carrying around hundreds of hitpoints. My character will be 12th level before he tops a hundred.

I'm just stating my opinion, of course.

What is your take, Arch?

[Archaelos]

I like the accumulation factor offered by D&D. I also like the Fort Save option with d20 Modern, and the fact that it's very temporary. I think combining the two would be more bookkeeping than it's worth, so I'm leaning towards the d20 Modern version since it gives the players more involvement in the process. I certainly don't want players out for hours in the middle of the action because of subdual attacks.

So unless anyone objects, I'll be going with the d20 Modern version in the future. (Hopefully, I'll remember that next time).

[Baelfyre]

May I suggest a combination?

The first time, save DC is 15. After that, each additional save has a +1 DC.