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Describing Non-Physical Hitpoint Loss?
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<blockquote data-quote="Scurvy_Platypus" data-source="post: 4335384" data-attributes="member: 43283"><p>Part of the problem is, I don't see a whole lot of stuff that does Hit Point damage _except_ physical stuff.</p><p></p><p>Morale and so forth always seems to be described as a penalty to the dice roll, not as damage to hit points. It's an argument that's been going on for years. The system itself basically treats it as a strictly physical thing, even though they say it's an abstract measurement that includes other factors.</p><p></p><p>Part of the other problem I've run into when trying to deal with non-physical hit point loss is, "Nuh uh, that wouldn't bother my character."</p><p></p><p>People don't like to be told how their character is feeling/reacting to something. You can phrase it in terms of "other people would be..." or something like that, but telling someone how their character is reacting and then tagging them in the Hit Points on top of it... I've never had a group that responded to it well.</p><p></p><p>To be honest, it's only when I started poking around forums that I saw anyone acting like Hit Points were something other than physical damage. A long time ago someone said, "What, so a Cure Light Wounds is really just a pep-talk? I have to cast a spell to pep-talk you into feeling better?" I really couldn't argue that, as I agreed with it myself.</p><p></p><p>Of course the name doesn't help either... "Hit Points" sounds pretty descriptive.</p><p></p><p>Mongoose went with "Endurance" for their Lone Wolf game, and then went further in powering stuff using Endurance. So it makes it pretty clear that "Endurance" is a measure of more than just getting popped in the side of the head.</p><p></p><p>I'm not trying to start an old argument that's never going to be resolved, I'm just saying that part of the reason why #2 is so difficult and so few people have any concrete suggestions is because _most_ people out there don't actually _do_ #2. They use modifiers to abilities and dice roll penalties instead.</p><p></p><p>Sorry I haven't been more helpful. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite3" alt=":(" title="Frown :(" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":(" /></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Scurvy_Platypus, post: 4335384, member: 43283"] Part of the problem is, I don't see a whole lot of stuff that does Hit Point damage _except_ physical stuff. Morale and so forth always seems to be described as a penalty to the dice roll, not as damage to hit points. It's an argument that's been going on for years. The system itself basically treats it as a strictly physical thing, even though they say it's an abstract measurement that includes other factors. Part of the other problem I've run into when trying to deal with non-physical hit point loss is, "Nuh uh, that wouldn't bother my character." People don't like to be told how their character is feeling/reacting to something. You can phrase it in terms of "other people would be..." or something like that, but telling someone how their character is reacting and then tagging them in the Hit Points on top of it... I've never had a group that responded to it well. To be honest, it's only when I started poking around forums that I saw anyone acting like Hit Points were something other than physical damage. A long time ago someone said, "What, so a Cure Light Wounds is really just a pep-talk? I have to cast a spell to pep-talk you into feeling better?" I really couldn't argue that, as I agreed with it myself. Of course the name doesn't help either... "Hit Points" sounds pretty descriptive. Mongoose went with "Endurance" for their Lone Wolf game, and then went further in powering stuff using Endurance. So it makes it pretty clear that "Endurance" is a measure of more than just getting popped in the side of the head. I'm not trying to start an old argument that's never going to be resolved, I'm just saying that part of the reason why #2 is so difficult and so few people have any concrete suggestions is because _most_ people out there don't actually _do_ #2. They use modifiers to abilities and dice roll penalties instead. Sorry I haven't been more helpful. :( [/QUOTE]
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