As stated way back when (perhaps in the recruitment thread?), I am running this game as a modified version of D20 modern. You guys made FORT saves versus the cold, adjusted by your cold weather gear and the "reasonable" constitution scores I gave you. Some were luckier than others in making said saving throws.
Regarding the cold, and taking damage from it: you are in severe subzero temperatures, combined with strong winds, in Antarctica. You were outside in said cold for approximately half an hour. This is not ski reseort weather - don't quibble with me about it not making sense. This is
killing cold, not vacation cold.
In 1983, a temperature of -128.6 degrees F was recorded at a research facility in Antarctica. Supply planes can only fly there on certain times of the year, and in certain seasons, can only stay landed for minutes at a time - the tires freeze to the runway. Yeah, your ski parka is gonna help with that.
LMAO @ "little miss techie's woo-hoo" comment!
In game terms, you need to rest to regain cold damage, and to ramove fatigue; this is the pure and simple answer. To fully recover from fatigue, you'll need the equivalent to a good night's sleep. Sorry, that's the way it is. You can ingest stimulants to increase mental awareness, or to help give you the willpower to press on, but you cannot recover from the fatigues state without sleep.
Thanks for the props, Vanadia. This is much like how a person can slip and fall in their own driveway and die, yet another can fall hundreds of feet and live. Damage is not consistent in real life, either, and this is a GAME.
Ayrn - having gamed with me, you ought to know that I never say "you have taken 12 points of damage, you have 11 left before you die." I will describe your physical states, but it will be up to you to decide what that really means.
A rule of thumb, though, is the following scale, in order of severity:
Healthy, minimal damage/scratch, minor damage, moderate damage, serious damage, critical damage, death.
I will, however, give you as many details as I can, if you ask in private. I will not give an approximation of hit points, even in percentage. Your character doesn't know how many hit points he/she has.
I have never been in the military. That being said, I cannot see that the Looey would mind Denes asking questions or instructions - not doing so would be much more foolish, IMO. I do know that as long as the situation allows it, chit chat is part of any operation. This is a mental device to help relieve stress; a team leader might quash it if stealth is needed, but otherwise, it would be silly to do so.
Ayrn and Vanadia have made good points - you are indeed soldiers, and elite ones at that. Ranger training focuses on grueling marathon sessions with little or no sleep; fatigue is something you have come to expect. you can function with it, just not as well as you would well rested.
That being said, it is entirely up to you guys whether you press on or try to rest!