so my understanding is that when a pc goes down due to exceeding wound threshold they can be brought back mid combat through healing. my question is can they be brought back in combat after exceeding strain threshold? would they just make a cool check or something like that?

also I was wondering if stimpacks would be able to bring back pc's after being knocked unconscious?

Your understanding regarding the wound threshold is correct. However, strain threshold can be dealt with similarly (advantages on medicine checks in combat recover strain, just like they do when performed after combat -- just remember setbacks for being shot at and the like). Additionally, if a party member has Inspiring Rhetoric or a similar talent, they can also provide the "fallen" party member with a strain recovery mechanic. Further, there are other talents (Second Wind comes to mind) that allow similar actions to be undertaken by the unconscious party member (YMMV as to whether or not the GM will allow a strained-out party member to execute an Incidental action, by RAW, they may not).

Stimpacks work solely on the basis of Wounds, so they would be ineffective for Strain recovery.

-After- the encounter, though, all party members (including the unconscious ones - wounded or strained out) may make a recovery roll to regain strain. This usually isn't an issue for PCs dropped by wounds as they have more pressing matters than their strain threshold but, I believe it's technically allowed by RAW.

Thanks dude that's super helpful I've been confused about this for a couple months. Although with the stimpack question I was referring to people being knocked out due to exceeding wound threshold.

I use a houserule that a Stimpack can wake a PC up. It gets them up at their Strain threshold and doesn't heal any, and it also counts as a Stimpack use against the 24 hour cap.

Thanks dude that's super helpful I've been confused about this for a couple months. Although with the stimpack question I was referring to people being knocked out due to exceeding wound threshold.

Being over your Strain Threshold does not necessarily mean you’re unconscious, just that you’re not able to participate in a useful way with anything. You’re gibbering over in the corner or something. Someone might be able to take you by the hand and lead you to a safe place, but that’s about the extent of what you might be able to achieve. You definitely would no longer pose a threat to anyone.

Being over your Wound Threshold would normally mean you’re unconscious or disabled due to pain or minor injuries such as bruises, nicks, and scratches, but it is conceivable that you could still be conscious and just out of the action. You wouldn’t be able to walk away from the scene, even if someone led you by your hand, but they could drag you.

However, it’s all up to you and your GM as to what makes the most sense for the story and the situation as it developed.

The other thing I house rule (I think it's a house rule, can't remember) is that a successful medical check that generates threat heals wounds, but the medic was clumsy and the threat is dealt to the patient as strain. We have a PC who is famous for his non-existent bedside manner.

The other thing I house rule (I think it's a house rule, can't remember) is that a successful medical check that generates threat heals wounds, but the medic was clumsy and the threat is dealt to the patient as strain. We have a PC who is famous for his non-existent bedside manner.

A horrendous slur on all hard working Mando Mercenaries. The bedside manner of "Take two capsules of stop bloody whining and drink a nice hot cut of shut the f*** up" was entirely in character. That the other PCs are of such a sensitive disposition shows a lack of spine and moral fortitude. At least thats how I choose to explain my inexplicable tendency of roling three threat with every successful saw-bones impression.

But more seriously, bradknowles has the strain mechanic nailed in what it means narritively . A combination of pysical exhaustion and mental/psychological trauma. Shell-shock, wire-happy, battle fatigue and psychiatric casualty are all terms that were used in the 20th century alone to describe it. Usually the effects were short term and could be treated with rest, light duties and being rotated out of the front lines (history lesson, the British and Empire troops in World War I actually spent very little time in the front line fighting positions. Despite the Blackadder myth the Generals of the IGS knew well that demoralised troops were combat ineffective and so rotated formations into reserve every few weeks). However extreme stress or for prolonged periods could result in permanent psychological injuries (PTSD being the current catch-all term). Having a pyscological critical inuries table would potentially make things interesting but at the expense of slowing/complicating play.

I use a houserule that a Stimpack can wake a PC up. It gets them up at their Strain threshold and doesn't heal any, and it also counts as a Stimpack use against the 24 hour cap.

I use a houserule that a stimpack cures wounds or strain, players choice, but still counts toward daily limit.

A horrendous slur on all hard working Mando Mercenaries. The bedside manner of "Take two capsules of stop bloody whining and drink a nice hot cut of shut the f*** up" was entirely in character. That the other PCs are of such a sensitive disposition shows a lack of spine and moral fortitude. At least thats how I choose to explain my inexplicable tendency of roling three threat with every successful saw-bones impression.

ROFL, thats hilarious, nice one.

Can you use incidentals while down? We thought they were like any other action/maneuver and

Can you use incidentals while down? We thought they were like any other action/maneuver and

By RAW, no, you can't. That said, there are Incidentals and there are incidentals. In the first category are Abilities and in the second are things like talking.

So, of course, there is now an article in the NYTimes entitled “ What if PTSD Is More Physical Than Psychological? ” and the indications are that what we call PTSD today has at least a large physical component in the way of damage to microstructures in the brain.

I don’t think that would have an impact on the in-game way that being over your Strain Threshold would be perceived, but it does give you pause when you think about the people in the real world who have suffered from this condition.