Death by losing constitution

Question

This question regards the pathfinder setting:

I'm having a bit of confusion as to how a death by constitution drain would take place, specifically with these rulings taken from the Pathfinder SRD:

Each roll of a Hit Die (though a penalty can never drop a result below 1—that is, a character always gains at least 1 hit point each time he advances in level). This rule suggests to me that a character will always have at least 1hp per HD, regardless of penalties, such as constitution drain. However, when looking under how much hp is lost after constitution drain, you find this:

Damage to your Constitution score causes you to take penalties on your Fortitude saving throws. In addition, multiply your total Hit Dice by the Ability Damage penalty and subtract that amount from your current and total hit points. Lost hit points are restored when the damage to your Constitution is healed.

So now, if we take a 5th level character (5 HD) with 16 Constitution and 35hp who took 7 points of constitution damage. Following the rules of how much hp is lost: 5 x 7 = 35 (HD x Ability Points Lost). Does this mean this fifth level character would die when hitting a constitution of 9? Or does this mean for every constitution point under 9, he only has a maximum of 1hp, as per the ruling stating a player always gains at least 1hp per HD gained?

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

In addition, multiply your total Hit Dice by the Ability Damage penalty and subtract that amount from your current and total hit points."

For every 2 points of damage you take to a single ability, apply a –1 penalty to skills and statistics listed with the relevant ability.

-d20pfsrd

Hp lost: 5 x -3 = -15. After another 7 ( 14 total ) the HP lost would be 5 x -7 = -35. With a Con of 2, and 0hp, he is conscious ( barely ), but not dead, because of: "When a creature's hit points drop below 0, it becomes unconscious. When a creature's hit points reach a negative total equal to its Constitution score, it dies."d20pfsrd

A further 1 point of damage will not do anything. An additional 1 point of damage after that will kill the character: "A character with a Constitution score of 0 is dead."d20pfsrd

Answer 2

You need to consider several things.

1. The rules for attribute drains presume temporary loss to attributes. This goes back to the d20 SRD, and is inherited by Pathfinder. In Pathfinder, according to the Beta, it's restored at 1 point per day of bedrest.

2. the penalty for attribute drains is not the same as the penalty for a low attribute, even tho' it is related conceptually and is parallel in magnitude. For a character with an even attribute, this actually is less severe by one point than for a refiguring of attribute modifier and its application; its the same for characters whose base value is odd.

3. The reduction in Max and Current HP can be seen as a systemic shock, rather than direct damage, but it automatically is restored as the con damage is healed.

4. If dead, you stop healing. But death is not until HP = -10 or -(Con), whichever is further from zero.

5. 1st level HP are maxed, and the worst is a d6.

So...

Remembering that Con drain is temporary, healed by bedrest...

The worst case is a Con 11 wizard (+0 HP/HD from Con), and has minimum HP every level, who takes 10 point loss to Con (-5 HP/HD from drain).
At level 1, HP=6 he's merely reduced to 1 Max HP.
At level 2, with minimum 11 HP, he's merely reduced to 2 Max HP.
At level 3, with minimum 12 HP he's merely reduced to -3 Max HP. Coma - see below. Enters coma when Con drain is 8 points.
At level 4, with the minimum 13 HP, he's reduced to -8 Max HP. Coma - See Below. Enters coma when Con drain is 6 points. But note - he could have raised con, and have Con 12, and been minimum 17 HP, and thus not be subject to coma until Con drain hits 8 points.
At level 5, with the minimum 14 HP, he's reduced to -11 Max HP. Dead. Enters coma when Con drain is 6 points, for max HP=-1.
At level 6, with the minimum 15 HP, he's reduced to -15 Max HP. Dead. Enters coma when Con drain is 6 points, for max HP=-3.
At level 7, with the minimum 16 HP, he's reduced to -19 Max HP. Dead. Enters coma when Con drain is 6 points, for max HP=-2.
At level 8, with the minimum 17 HP, he's reduced to -23 Max HP. Dead. Enters coma when Con drain is 6 points, for max HP=-5.
At level 9, with the minimum 18 HP, he's reduced to -27 Max HP. Dead. Enters coma when Con drain is 4 points, for max HP=0.

Coma - the rules don't call it this, and it's an interesting effect that occurs. If your con is drained, and your Max HP drop below 0, you aren't dead if someone stablizes you before the death point is reached. Sure, you can't heal until the con comes back. You're unconscious, immobile, and will need special care. But if tended, you WILL get better, when your con returns.

Note that some things that can keep you from entering a coma state - Temporary hit points being the most obvious - and temporary boosts to Con. Or any ability that allows you to act while HP is below 0.