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+# Death Timer — Design Spec
+
+Last updated: 2026-04-12
+
+---
+
+## Goal
+
+Implement Shadowdark's dying mechanic: when a character drops to 0 HP they enter a dying state with a 1d4 + CON modifier round countdown. Each party turn they can roll d20 for recovery (18–20 = stand at 1 HP). If the timer expires they are marked dead.
+
+---
+
+## Data Model
+
+### Dying state — `character_conditions` (existing table)
+
+When HP hits 0, insert a condition row:
+
+```
+name: "Dying"
+rounds_remaining: 1d4 + CON modifier (minimum 1, rolled server-side)
+description: "" (unused for this condition)
+```
+
+Using the existing conditions table keeps dying state consistent with the spell mishap system and is automatically cleaned up when a character is healed above 0 HP.
+
+### Permanent death — `characters` table (new column)
+
+```sql
+ALTER TABLE characters ADD COLUMN is_dead BOOLEAN NOT NULL DEFAULT FALSE;
+```
+
+`is_dead` is set when the timer reaches 0. It is a persistent character flag — not a condition — because death survives session resets. The DM can manually clear it (via the existing character edit flow) if story reasons bring a character back.
+
+---
+
+## Server Triggers
+
+### 1. HP hits 0 — auto-start dying
+
+In `PATCH /characters/:id`, after writing `hp_current`:
+
+- If new `hp_current <= 0` and character is not already dying and not `is_dead`:
+  - Roll 1d4 server-side, add CON modifier (from `character_stats`), clamp to minimum 1
+  - Insert Dying condition with `rounds_remaining = result`
+  - Broadcast `character:updated` (includes conditions array)
+
+- If new `hp_current > 0` and character has a Dying condition:
+  - Delete the Dying condition (healed out of dying state)
+  - Broadcast `character:updated`
+
+### 2. Party turn starts — tick the timer
+
+In the `initiative:next` socket handler, when `current_side` flips to `"party"`:
+
+- Query all Dying conditions for characters in this campaign
+- Decrement each `rounds_remaining` by 1
+- For any that reach 0:
+  - Delete the Dying condition
+  - Set `is_dead = true` on the character
+  - Broadcast `character:updated`
+- Broadcast updated conditions for remaining dying characters via `character:updated`
+
+### 3. Recovery roll — `death:recovery-roll`
+
+New socket event emitted by the client when the DM clicks Roll Recovery.
+
+Payload: `{ campaignId, characterId }`
+
+Server handler:
+- Verify caller is DM of the campaign
+- Verify character has a Dying condition
+- Roll d20 server-side (via existing `rollDie` utility in `dice.ts`)
+- Emit a `roll:result` event to the campaign room (same schema as existing dice rolls) with `label: "Death Save"` so it appears in the existing roll log UI
+- If result >= 18:
+  - Set `hp_current = 1`
+  - Delete Dying condition
+  - Broadcast `character:updated`
+- Otherwise: no state change (character remains dying)
+
+---
+
+## Client UI
+
+### Character card — dying indicator
+
+On `CharacterCard`, when `conditions` includes a "Dying" entry:
+
+- Add a pulsing red border to the card
+- Show `💀 N` (skull + rounds remaining) in the vitals row alongside the HP bar
+
+When `is_dead === true`:
+
+- Card renders with a muted/grey visual treatment
+- Skull icon persists, HP locked at 0
+- No action buttons (HP +/- disabled)
+
+### Initiative tracker — recovery roll button
+
+In `InitiativeTracker`, in the party combatant list, for each character with a Dying condition:
+
+- Show `"💀 Dying (N rounds)"` label inline
+- Show `"⚀ Roll Recovery"` button (DM only)
+- Clicking emits `death:recovery-roll` to the server
+- Button disappears on success (character stands) or death (timer expires)
+
+### Roll log
+
+Recovery rolls appear with a `"Death Save"` label:
+
+- Failure: `"Morgana — Death Save: 14"`
+- Success: `"Morgana — Death Save: 19 — stands at 1 HP!"`
+
+---
+
+## Edge Cases
+
+- **Already dying when HP drops to 0 again:** No new condition inserted; existing timer continues.
+- **Healed above 0 while dying:** Dying condition deleted on the same PATCH that raises HP. No recovery roll needed.
+- **CON modifier is negative:** `rounds_remaining = max(1, 1d4 + CON_mod)` — always at least 1 round.
+- **Combat ends while character is dying:** Timer stops ticking (no initiative turns). Dying condition persists so it resumes if combat restarts. DM can manually heal or mark dead.
+- **`is_dead` character receives healing:** PATCH still updates `hp_current`; `is_dead` is only cleared by a new "Revive" action on the character card (DM only) — a button that sets `is_dead = false` and `hp_current = 1`. This prevents accidental revival from a stray HP edit. The Revive action is in scope for this feature.
+- **Multiple dying characters same round:** All timers decrement together on the party turn flip; all death broadcasts fire in the same handler.
+
+---
+
+## Files Affected
+
+| File | Change |
+|---|---|
+| `server/migrations/006_death_timer.sql` | Add `is_dead` column to `characters` |
+| `server/src/routes/characters.ts` | Auto-start/clear dying on HP change |
+| `server/src/socket.ts` | Tick timer on `initiative:next`; handle `death:recovery-roll` |
+| `client/src/types.ts` | Add `is_dead` to `Character` type |
+| `client/src/components/CharacterCard.tsx` | Dying border + countdown; dead state |
+| `client/src/components/InitiativeTracker.tsx` | Dying label + Roll Recovery button |
+| `client/src/components/InitiativeTracker.tsx` | Emit `death:recovery-roll` (already listed above, also handles Revive button) |
+| `client/src/components/CharacterCard.tsx` | Revive button (DM only, appears when `is_dead`) |