Dying Grace and Battlefield First Aid

Overview

This rule replaces instant death at 0 hp (for character-types) with a short intervention clock. It preserves danger while creating rescue decisions under pressure.

Procedure

1. When a character-type reaches 0 hp, mark them as dying.
2. Base window: 1 combat turn at 1st level.
3. Add 1 extra combat turn per level beyond 1st.
4. If healed before the window ends, the character survives.
5. Survivor consequence: permanent -1 Constitution and a lasting scar.

Scope

• Normal-types still die at 0 hp.
• Applies only to immediate intervention, not delayed treatment.

Use Case

Good for campaigns that want hard consequences without frequent abrupt character removal.

See Also

• Emergency Survivability Buffers
• Bind Wounds Short-Rest Recovery
• Old-School Essentials Classic Fantasy Rules Tome