A Better 5E Death Save: The Last Stand

From a mechanics standpoint the Death Save feature of D&D 5e is pretty neat, but from a narrative standpoint it kind of sucks. Specifically when you reach the point of 3 failed saves and go from unconscious to dead, that’s it. No final words, no glorious send off, or cool cinematic, all because your character’s been unconscious and therefore can’t have those moments. So Matt and I tried to brainstorm a solution in the video above. Here’s what we came up with:

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The Last Stand

When a character is dropped to 0 hp and isn’t killed instantly they immediately drop to prone and begin making Death Saving Throws at the beginning of each of their turns, keeping the results hidden from the rest of the table.

DEATH SAVING THROW RESULTS
1 = 2 Failures
2-9 = 1 Failure
10-19 = 1 Success
20 = Conscious with 1hp

During this time they are physically and mentally fighting to stay alive, and only able to perform basic tasks. As such characters are unable to use their race or class features, or find the focus to dig around for health potions and have to use what is at hand or easily accessible. Each round they are able to take one of the actions or reactions below - not both.

Actions

• Move up to 10ft
  You focus all of your energies on moving, allowing you to crawl on your hands and knees in any direction that permits prone movement.

• Make an Attack
  With whatever weapon you have to hand you can attempt one attack on a creature within range. You still get your weapon proficiencies and DEX/STR modifier to add to the attack.

• Cast a Cantrip
  Spells of Level 1 and higher are too taxing for your mental and physical energy levels, however, cantrips are fortunately simple and almost second nature and can be cast as normal.

• Taunt
  Make an intimidation (STR or CHA) check against an opponent within 60ft. If your roll is greater than their Insight (WIS) check, any attack they make against a creature that isn’t you for the next round has disadvantage. If you beat their check by 7+, they are compelled to move to and attack you on their turn.

• Blaze of Glory
  Should you reach the point of 2 failed Death Saving Throws and want to go out fighting, at the beginning of your turn you can choose to forfeit the roll, take the final failed Saving Throw, and embrace death for your character. However, before their time comes they regain all of their abilities and actions from before they dropped to 0hp and have a full turn they can act out. The are considered a dead PC walking though, so unfortunately any potions and healing will have no effect. Once their turn is finished, so are they.

Reactions

• Parry
  If an enemy hits your character you can attempt to dodge or deflect the strike. When the roll is called you can opt to add your DEX or STR mod to your AC for that one attack.

• Martyr
  When an ally within 5ft of you is hit with an attack you can dive in front of the blow to spare them from any damage. As a result though you suffer 2 failed death saving throws from the strike if it was melee, or 1 failed saving throw if it was ranged.

Additional Notes

Using Magic Items
Most items can be used as normal, however, anything that is attuned requires a concentration check of DC10 + [1 x Number of Failed Saves] in order to use it properly. Sometimes this will come down to the DM’s discretion as a concentration check may not always make sense for items that require attunement.

Becoming Stabilized
After 3 successful saves without a natural 20, or if the character is stabilized from a medicine roll then they can stop making Death Saving throws. They’re still not back in the fight since they have no hit points, but the character can still choose to take any of the actions/reaction listed above. However, after any action/reaction they have to make a DC10 WIS saving throw or fall unconscious.

DEATH!
If Darkness comes to embrace a character like an old friend, we pause and look to the player, as they describe how they would like their character to go cinematically.