Continual Damage

Continual Damage inflicts HP loss at a recurring interval — it's the gift that keeps on giving. Unlike acute physical trauma doled out by sword thrusts and axe swings, Continual Damage is caused by more persistent circumstances, like bleeding to death or catching fire. As a result, most Continual Damage is considered either burning or bleeding damage.

Any effect in this game that imposes Continual Damage will list the amount of damage incurred, the duration between each occurrence, and the type of damage. For example, catching on fire (detailed later in this chapter) causes Continual Damage [4 HP per round; burning]. Even more if it spreads!

When each interval elapses, the damage comes directly out of the creature’s HP, and no amount of Endurance, Guard, or Armor can help. Most effects that impose Continual Damage allow for the creature at risk to make a skill check to stave them off entirely or to neutralize them once active, and some effects expire on their own. A creature can be subject to several different types of Continual Damage at once, possibly with different intervals (for instance, one effect repeats every round, another every hour). Some effects can be compounded to impose more damage upon each occurrence.