Healing step by step: health, bleeding and injuries
Identify the active effect first. Stopping bleeding, restoring health, treating an injury and curing infection are separate jobs.
Description
Current health measures how much more damage you can take. Reduced available maximum health and an active injury can remain after using a healing item. Some effects recover gradually, and straining an injured limb can delay recovery.
Match the treatment to the problem
A regular bandage stops bleeding but does not replace treatment for a deep laceration. A laceration needs a First Aid Kit or Sewing Kit. A splint or cast helps an injured limb recover.
Painkillers treat concussion, while vitamins treat fatigue. Infection requires its own treatment, such as honey or antibiotics. Read the active effect because similar-looking problems have different solutions.
When treatment did not solve everything
Check health, food, water and injuries together. You may have stopped bleeding while still having low HP, a broken leg or infection. Medical equipment does not replace a safe drinking supply.
Use the displayed self-treatment action when treating yourself. When helping a teammate, check the target and available action so your last dressing is used on the intended character.
Recovery changes how you should move
With a leg injury, jumping and sprinting can delay healing or cause pain. With an arm injury, power attacks and ranged attacks can cause problems. Shorten your retreat and choose activities that do not aggravate the injury.
A treated limb still needs time. One warning disappearing does not always mean full recovery. Arrange transport or help before entering a situation you cannot safely leave.
Pack for the expedition's risk
A short trip near home and a distant night quest need different reserves. Keep ways to stop bleeding, restore health and begin infection treatment, then choose injury supplies for the route.
Do not count the same item twice when planning for several problems. A First Aid Kit reserved for a badly injured teammate is not also a guaranteed reserve for your next injury.
What to do
- Get out of immediate danger and open your character's active effects.
- Stop bleeding with an appropriate dressing, because ongoing health loss can undo your healing.
- Match the item to the injury's name. Read its effects and possible drawbacks.
- Check what disappeared, what is still healing and what limits maximum health or stamina. Do not assume one medicine solved everything.
Worked example
You stop bleeding with a bandage, but the deep laceration icon remains. That need not be a bug: the bleeding is controlled while the wound still needs its proper treatment.
Common mistake
Using more health-restoring medicine without checking which active effect still limits your character.