Can an unconscious PC or NPC reject healing from a potion?












14












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After examining the 5e PHB on healing (pg 197) and perusing through various healing spells, I have found no reference to willingness as a required component for HP to be restored. The context for this question is a PC or NPC who, having been reduced to 0HP, wishes to die rather than be captured alive.



Can an unconscious player character or NPC reject healing from a potion? Please note that I am not referring to any form of resurrection, strictly to healing from potions.



Is there any core rule which states that the healee must 'opt in' to potion effects, or does RAW, by its silence on the matter, indicate that the unconscious PC/NPC in my case could be forced back to consciousness by the potion?






dnd-5e healing potions







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  • 1




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    Let us continue this discussion in chat.
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    – NautArch
    8 hours ago






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    Related on Can an unconscious person drink a potion?
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    – NautArch
    8 hours ago








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Related (for spells): Do targets get a saving throw if they don't want a positive magic effect from a spell? (not a duplicate because spells and potions are mechanically different)
    $endgroup$
    – Rubiksmoose
    7 hours ago


















14












$begingroup$


After examining the 5e PHB on healing (pg 197) and perusing through various healing spells, I have found no reference to willingness as a required component for HP to be restored. The context for this question is a PC or NPC who, having been reduced to 0HP, wishes to die rather than be captured alive.



Can an unconscious player character or NPC reject healing from a potion? Please note that I am not referring to any form of resurrection, strictly to healing from potions.



Is there any core rule which states that the healee must 'opt in' to potion effects, or does RAW, by its silence on the matter, indicate that the unconscious PC/NPC in my case could be forced back to consciousness by the potion?






dnd-5e healing potions







share|improve this question











$endgroup$








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Let us continue this discussion in chat.
    $endgroup$
    – NautArch
    8 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Related on Can an unconscious person drink a potion?
    $endgroup$
    – NautArch
    8 hours ago








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Related (for spells): Do targets get a saving throw if they don't want a positive magic effect from a spell? (not a duplicate because spells and potions are mechanically different)
    $endgroup$
    – Rubiksmoose
    7 hours ago
















14












14








14





$begingroup$


After examining the 5e PHB on healing (pg 197) and perusing through various healing spells, I have found no reference to willingness as a required component for HP to be restored. The context for this question is a PC or NPC who, having been reduced to 0HP, wishes to die rather than be captured alive.



Can an unconscious player character or NPC reject healing from a potion? Please note that I am not referring to any form of resurrection, strictly to healing from potions.



Is there any core rule which states that the healee must 'opt in' to potion effects, or does RAW, by its silence on the matter, indicate that the unconscious PC/NPC in my case could be forced back to consciousness by the potion?






dnd-5e healing potions







share|improve this question











$endgroup$




After examining the 5e PHB on healing (pg 197) and perusing through various healing spells, I have found no reference to willingness as a required component for HP to be restored. The context for this question is a PC or NPC who, having been reduced to 0HP, wishes to die rather than be captured alive.



Can an unconscious player character or NPC reject healing from a potion? Please note that I am not referring to any form of resurrection, strictly to healing from potions.



Is there any core rule which states that the healee must 'opt in' to potion effects, or does RAW, by its silence on the matter, indicate that the unconscious PC/NPC in my case could be forced back to consciousness by the potion?






dnd-5e healing potions




dnd-5e healing potions






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 3 hours ago









doppelgreener♦

32.3k11137231




32.3k11137231










asked 9 hours ago









frogfrog

507210




507210








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Let us continue this discussion in chat.
    $endgroup$
    – NautArch
    8 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Related on Can an unconscious person drink a potion?
    $endgroup$
    – NautArch
    8 hours ago








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Related (for spells): Do targets get a saving throw if they don't want a positive magic effect from a spell? (not a duplicate because spells and potions are mechanically different)
    $endgroup$
    – Rubiksmoose
    7 hours ago
















  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Let us continue this discussion in chat.
    $endgroup$
    – NautArch
    8 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Related on Can an unconscious person drink a potion?
    $endgroup$
    – NautArch
    8 hours ago








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Related (for spells): Do targets get a saving throw if they don't want a positive magic effect from a spell? (not a duplicate because spells and potions are mechanically different)
    $endgroup$
    – Rubiksmoose
    7 hours ago










1




1




$begingroup$
Let us continue this discussion in chat.
$endgroup$
– NautArch
8 hours ago




$begingroup$
Let us continue this discussion in chat.
$endgroup$
– NautArch
8 hours ago




1




1




$begingroup$
Related on Can an unconscious person drink a potion?
$endgroup$
– NautArch
8 hours ago






$begingroup$
Related on Can an unconscious person drink a potion?
$endgroup$
– NautArch
8 hours ago






1




1




$begingroup$
Related (for spells): Do targets get a saving throw if they don't want a positive magic effect from a spell? (not a duplicate because spells and potions are mechanically different)
$endgroup$
– Rubiksmoose
7 hours ago






$begingroup$
Related (for spells): Do targets get a saving throw if they don't want a positive magic effect from a spell? (not a duplicate because spells and potions are mechanically different)
$endgroup$
– Rubiksmoose
7 hours ago












2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















25












$begingroup$

You cannot choose to abstain from a potion effect



Potion of Healing states:




You regain hit points when you drink this potion.




In that language, there is no choice. Just cause and effect. You drink the potion, you regain hitpoints.



If you had a choice about potion effects, then the Potion of Poison would hold no threat.




This concoction[potion of poison] looks, smells, and tastes like a potion of healing or other beneficial potion...If you drink it, you take 3d6 poison damage...




If you could choose not to accept a potion's effects, then you could drink a Potion of Poison thinking it's one of Healing and then opt out of the effect.



Inability to decide anything



It's also important to note that the character is currently unconscious. Even if choice was possible, the only way they could make it is if they were conscious. Since they aren't, there definitely isn't a way for them to decline (just like how they can't decline drinking the potion.)






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    In the absence of explicit rules text describing that healing is ever optional, I think this is solid reasoning
    $endgroup$
    – frog
    4 hours ago



















7












$begingroup$

If you could opt out of a healing potion's positive effects, what's to stop you from opting out of a poison's negative effects? Potions do exactly what they're intended to do. Same could be said for healing spells: you can no more deny the effects of a healing spell cast upon you than you can a fireball cast at you. If it hits, it lands.






share|improve this answer










New contributor




DarkWolf is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






$endgroup$









  • 2




    $begingroup$
    It might be worth noting that I'm not even sure how an unconscious person can actually choose anything. Even if they did have a choice how could they possible make it while passed out?
    $endgroup$
    – Rubiksmoose
    6 hours ago











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2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes








2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









25












$begingroup$

You cannot choose to abstain from a potion effect



Potion of Healing states:




You regain hit points when you drink this potion.




In that language, there is no choice. Just cause and effect. You drink the potion, you regain hitpoints.



If you had a choice about potion effects, then the Potion of Poison would hold no threat.




This concoction[potion of poison] looks, smells, and tastes like a potion of healing or other beneficial potion...If you drink it, you take 3d6 poison damage...




If you could choose not to accept a potion's effects, then you could drink a Potion of Poison thinking it's one of Healing and then opt out of the effect.



Inability to decide anything



It's also important to note that the character is currently unconscious. Even if choice was possible, the only way they could make it is if they were conscious. Since they aren't, there definitely isn't a way for them to decline (just like how they can't decline drinking the potion.)






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    In the absence of explicit rules text describing that healing is ever optional, I think this is solid reasoning
    $endgroup$
    – frog
    4 hours ago
















25












$begingroup$

You cannot choose to abstain from a potion effect



Potion of Healing states:




You regain hit points when you drink this potion.




In that language, there is no choice. Just cause and effect. You drink the potion, you regain hitpoints.



If you had a choice about potion effects, then the Potion of Poison would hold no threat.




This concoction[potion of poison] looks, smells, and tastes like a potion of healing or other beneficial potion...If you drink it, you take 3d6 poison damage...




If you could choose not to accept a potion's effects, then you could drink a Potion of Poison thinking it's one of Healing and then opt out of the effect.



Inability to decide anything



It's also important to note that the character is currently unconscious. Even if choice was possible, the only way they could make it is if they were conscious. Since they aren't, there definitely isn't a way for them to decline (just like how they can't decline drinking the potion.)






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    In the absence of explicit rules text describing that healing is ever optional, I think this is solid reasoning
    $endgroup$
    – frog
    4 hours ago














25












25








25





$begingroup$

You cannot choose to abstain from a potion effect



Potion of Healing states:




You regain hit points when you drink this potion.




In that language, there is no choice. Just cause and effect. You drink the potion, you regain hitpoints.



If you had a choice about potion effects, then the Potion of Poison would hold no threat.




This concoction[potion of poison] looks, smells, and tastes like a potion of healing or other beneficial potion...If you drink it, you take 3d6 poison damage...




If you could choose not to accept a potion's effects, then you could drink a Potion of Poison thinking it's one of Healing and then opt out of the effect.



Inability to decide anything



It's also important to note that the character is currently unconscious. Even if choice was possible, the only way they could make it is if they were conscious. Since they aren't, there definitely isn't a way for them to decline (just like how they can't decline drinking the potion.)






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$



You cannot choose to abstain from a potion effect



Potion of Healing states:




You regain hit points when you drink this potion.




In that language, there is no choice. Just cause and effect. You drink the potion, you regain hitpoints.



If you had a choice about potion effects, then the Potion of Poison would hold no threat.




This concoction[potion of poison] looks, smells, and tastes like a potion of healing or other beneficial potion...If you drink it, you take 3d6 poison damage...




If you could choose not to accept a potion's effects, then you could drink a Potion of Poison thinking it's one of Healing and then opt out of the effect.



Inability to decide anything



It's also important to note that the character is currently unconscious. Even if choice was possible, the only way they could make it is if they were conscious. Since they aren't, there definitely isn't a way for them to decline (just like how they can't decline drinking the potion.)







share|improve this answer














share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited 6 hours ago

























answered 6 hours ago









NautArchNautArch

55.6k8197372




55.6k8197372












  • $begingroup$
    In the absence of explicit rules text describing that healing is ever optional, I think this is solid reasoning
    $endgroup$
    – frog
    4 hours ago


















  • $begingroup$
    In the absence of explicit rules text describing that healing is ever optional, I think this is solid reasoning
    $endgroup$
    – frog
    4 hours ago
















$begingroup$
In the absence of explicit rules text describing that healing is ever optional, I think this is solid reasoning
$endgroup$
– frog
4 hours ago




$begingroup$
In the absence of explicit rules text describing that healing is ever optional, I think this is solid reasoning
$endgroup$
– frog
4 hours ago













7












$begingroup$

If you could opt out of a healing potion's positive effects, what's to stop you from opting out of a poison's negative effects? Potions do exactly what they're intended to do. Same could be said for healing spells: you can no more deny the effects of a healing spell cast upon you than you can a fireball cast at you. If it hits, it lands.






share|improve this answer










New contributor




DarkWolf is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






$endgroup$









  • 2




    $begingroup$
    It might be worth noting that I'm not even sure how an unconscious person can actually choose anything. Even if they did have a choice how could they possible make it while passed out?
    $endgroup$
    – Rubiksmoose
    6 hours ago
















7












$begingroup$

If you could opt out of a healing potion's positive effects, what's to stop you from opting out of a poison's negative effects? Potions do exactly what they're intended to do. Same could be said for healing spells: you can no more deny the effects of a healing spell cast upon you than you can a fireball cast at you. If it hits, it lands.






share|improve this answer










New contributor




DarkWolf is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






$endgroup$









  • 2




    $begingroup$
    It might be worth noting that I'm not even sure how an unconscious person can actually choose anything. Even if they did have a choice how could they possible make it while passed out?
    $endgroup$
    – Rubiksmoose
    6 hours ago














7












7








7





$begingroup$

If you could opt out of a healing potion's positive effects, what's to stop you from opting out of a poison's negative effects? Potions do exactly what they're intended to do. Same could be said for healing spells: you can no more deny the effects of a healing spell cast upon you than you can a fireball cast at you. If it hits, it lands.






share|improve this answer










New contributor




DarkWolf is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






$endgroup$



If you could opt out of a healing potion's positive effects, what's to stop you from opting out of a poison's negative effects? Potions do exactly what they're intended to do. Same could be said for healing spells: you can no more deny the effects of a healing spell cast upon you than you can a fireball cast at you. If it hits, it lands.







share|improve this answer










New contributor




DarkWolf is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited 6 hours ago









SevenSidedDie♦

207k31664940




207k31664940






New contributor




DarkWolf is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









answered 7 hours ago









DarkWolfDarkWolf

913




913




New contributor




DarkWolf is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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New contributor





DarkWolf is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






DarkWolf is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.








  • 2




    $begingroup$
    It might be worth noting that I'm not even sure how an unconscious person can actually choose anything. Even if they did have a choice how could they possible make it while passed out?
    $endgroup$
    – Rubiksmoose
    6 hours ago














  • 2




    $begingroup$
    It might be worth noting that I'm not even sure how an unconscious person can actually choose anything. Even if they did have a choice how could they possible make it while passed out?
    $endgroup$
    – Rubiksmoose
    6 hours ago








2




2




$begingroup$
It might be worth noting that I'm not even sure how an unconscious person can actually choose anything. Even if they did have a choice how could they possible make it while passed out?
$endgroup$
– Rubiksmoose
6 hours ago




$begingroup$
It might be worth noting that I'm not even sure how an unconscious person can actually choose anything. Even if they did have a choice how could they possible make it while passed out?
$endgroup$
– Rubiksmoose
6 hours ago


















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