Rules: Hovering on Death's Door

"This page contains information from the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, 2nd Edition Dungeon Master Guide. The use of this information is not intended as a challenge to the copyright of Wizards of the Coast, and is believed to qualify as Fair Use."When this rule is in use, a character can remain alive until their hit points reach -10. However, as soon as the character reaches 0 hit points, they fall to the ground unconscious.

Thereafter, they automatically lose one hit point each round. Their survival from this point on depends on the quick thinking of their companions. If they reach the character before their hit points reach -10 and spend at least one round tending to their wounds - stanching the flow of blood, etc. - the character does not die immediately.

If the only action is to bind their wounds, the injured character no longer loses one hit point each round, but neither do they gain any. They remain unconscious and vulnerable to damage from further attacks.

If a cure wounds spell of some type is cast upon them, the character is immediately restored to 1 hit point - no more. Further cures do the character no good until they have had at least one day of rest. Until such time, they are weak and feeble, unable to fight and barely able to move. They must stop and rest often, can't cast spells (the shock of near death has wiped them from their mind), and are generally confused and feverish. They are able to move and can hold somewhat disjointed conversations, but that's it.

If a heal spell is cast on the character, or a potion of healing (of any magnitude) is administered, their hit points are restored as per the spell, and they have full vitality and wits. Any spells they may have known are still wiped from their memory. (Even this powerful magic does not negate the shock of the experience.)