Falling unconscious from wounds represents the body's reaction to serious physical trauma. It can happen when the character is overwhelmed by Bashing or Lethal damage. When a character falls to Bashing damage, it's probably because of a knockout blow, or because their body needs a few minutes to recover. When it's caused by Lethal damage, there is simply too much trauma to the character's body for them to keep going. Their body is now focused on basic survival and conserves as much energy as possible by staying unconscious.
A patient unconscious from Bashing damage will almost certainly wake up in about 15 minutes. There is not enough gross trauma to force their body to shut down for an extended period.
A patient unconscious from Lethal damage is in a much more dire situation. Without proper treatment, they will likely die from their injuries long before they have a chance to wake up. After this first aid has been administered and the patient is stable, they remain unlikely to awake without further intervention. Since treatment is often easier on a patient who can answer questions, nurses and EMTs usually to try to get them conscious. This is accomplished with a simple Medicine check, similar to healing a point of Bashing damage (see Rouse Patient, below). If even one success is gained, the patient regains consciousness, although no damage boxes are cleared. Optionally, the patient character can attempt a reflexive Resolve + Stamina roll at this point to determine whether they regain consciousness.
If no attempt is made to rouse a stable patient, they will remain unconscious for up to two days. Exactly when they wake up within that period is anyone's guess, and is left entirely to the discretion of the Storyteller.
Sometimes, there's just too much damage to the patient for them to wake up. A patient riddled with bullets and missing half of their blood is utterly incapable of waking until they have healed: thier body doesn't have the energy. Similarly, attempts to wake a patient suffering from a baseball bat to the head will almost always fail, since their body is currently trying to heal and protect the brain.
On the other hand, some patients are surprisingly easy to rouse from unconsciousness. A patient covered in third degree burns may wake on their own, in fact, and is likely to remain conscious afterward. A different patient with a log through their chest might initially fall unconscious, but be easy to rouse and eager to talk. At least, until the log is removed. No matter the type of damage, clearing at least one health box usually allows the patient to wake up and stay conscious.
Sometimes you need your patient awake, even when they have a hole in their face.
Dice Pool: Dexterity + Medicine
Action: Prolonged (a few minutes)
Dramatic Failure: Your efforts go disastrously wrong. Not only does the patient remain unconscious, they suffer an additional point of Bashing damage.
Failure: The patient remains unconscious.
Success: The patient wakes up, if their injuries permit. Wakefulness rarely lasts more than a few minutes before their body has depleted its reserves.
Exceptional Success: The patient wakes up and stays up despite their injuries, even if those would normally preclude consciousness.
| Modifier | Situation |
|---|---|
| -1 | Every box of Aggravated Damage on the patient's health track |
| -1 | Every consecutive attempt to wake the patient before they have one health box clear |