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Session 0

1. World setting – Greyhawk or Forbidden Realms

2. DM rota – Anyone really keen to DM first or shall we roll for it?
3. Character & Party creation – what characters do we want to play, perhaps discuss how the
party was created and the rationale for it staying together. Perhaps the PCs are all members
of an organisation like the harpers in FR or Seekers of the Arcane in Greyhawk?
4. Are there any variant rules from the DMG or homebrew rules we’d like to use?

DMG Optional Variant Rules

1. Identifying a magic item – more difficult identification p.136

2. Flanking p.251
3. Story-based level advancement p.261
4. Horror p. 266
5. Slow Natural Healing p.267
6. Actions options p.271/2 (except disarm & mark)

Reduced to 0hp

When you are reduced to 0hp you also pick up a level of exhaustion.

Knocking a creature out (PHB p.198)

If you reduce a creature to 0hp, you can state your intention to knock the creature out but only if
you are using a bludgeoning weapon. However, there is still a possibility that the blow is fatal. To
avoid taking death saving throws (or immediate death at DM’s discretion), the creature has to pass a
CON saving throw. The DC is equal to the amount of damage the blow inflicted or 10, whatever is
higher.

“Endure the Pain” Option

If reduced to 0 hit points, instead of automatically being down & unconscious you can choose to try
& endure the pain, remain conscious and fight on. If you choose to endure the pain, until you
manage to stabilise by passing three death saving throws, at the end of your turn you must pass a DC
15 CON saving throw or fall unconscious. However, you immediately gain a further level of
exhaustion on top of the level you picked up for falling to 0hp. Bear in mind that if you receive any
further damage when at 0 hp it counts as an automatic death saving throw failure.