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General Tabletop Discussion
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
Realism vs. Believability and the Design of HPs, Powers and Other Things
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<blockquote data-quote="FireLance" data-source="post: 5889123" data-attributes="member: 3424"><p>Oh certainly, characters are taking physical damage, but in the form of minor cuts and bruises and other non-hindering, non-critical wounds. My point is not that the characters are not taking physical damage. My point is that the rules imply that it is never serious and life-threatening until the last hit point of damage. </p><p></p><p>As I posted in another thread:</p><p></p><p>I think what you are grappling with is the idea that a character could mechanically be at full hit points but be narratively wounded. This has not been an issue previously because the only way to restore hit points quickly was to use magic. However, the fact that the previous narratives for rapid restoration of hit points can no longer be applied to rapid non-magical hit point recovery does not make it illogical. It simply means that a new narrative is needed. </p><p></p><p>So, if a 100 hp fighter who has been reduced to 1 hp has sustained no serious, life-threatening, incapacitating injuries (since he is otherwise treated as if he is uninjured), and is only covered with cuts, scratches and bruises, then hit points can be defined as any intangible factor that can keep him from being killed, such as vigor or luck, and can be quickly and easily restored, even through non-magical means.</p><p></p><p>If a 100 hp fighter who has been reduced to 1 hp has sustained serious injury but is somehow able to ignore it (since he is otherwise treated as if he is uninjured), then hit points can be defined as any intangible factor that allows him to function at (mostly) full effectiveness despite serious injury, such as willpower or determination, and quick, non-magical recovery of hit points simply represents a renewal of those factors, leaving the underlying injuries unchanged.</p><p></p><p>In short, depending on which view of hit points you prefer, you can narrate the non-magical recovery of hit points as either the restoration of the ability to avoid future wounds or the ability to keep going despite having sustained serious wounds.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="FireLance, post: 5889123, member: 3424"] Oh certainly, characters are taking physical damage, but in the form of minor cuts and bruises and other non-hindering, non-critical wounds. My point is not that the characters are not taking physical damage. My point is that the rules imply that it is never serious and life-threatening until the last hit point of damage. As I posted in another thread: I think what you are grappling with is the idea that a character could mechanically be at full hit points but be narratively wounded. This has not been an issue previously because the only way to restore hit points quickly was to use magic. However, the fact that the previous narratives for rapid restoration of hit points can no longer be applied to rapid non-magical hit point recovery does not make it illogical. It simply means that a new narrative is needed. So, if a 100 hp fighter who has been reduced to 1 hp has sustained no serious, life-threatening, incapacitating injuries (since he is otherwise treated as if he is uninjured), and is only covered with cuts, scratches and bruises, then hit points can be defined as any intangible factor that can keep him from being killed, such as vigor or luck, and can be quickly and easily restored, even through non-magical means. If a 100 hp fighter who has been reduced to 1 hp has sustained serious injury but is somehow able to ignore it (since he is otherwise treated as if he is uninjured), then hit points can be defined as any intangible factor that allows him to function at (mostly) full effectiveness despite serious injury, such as willpower or determination, and quick, non-magical recovery of hit points simply represents a renewal of those factors, leaving the underlying injuries unchanged. In short, depending on which view of hit points you prefer, you can narrate the non-magical recovery of hit points as either the restoration of the ability to avoid future wounds or the ability to keep going despite having sustained serious wounds. [/QUOTE]
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