Non-lethal damage

[ExploderWizard]

If all hits are actual hits, what's the point of separating hp from CON?

Actual hits are meant to represent things that wear down the defenses, luck, and battle readiness of the victim as opposed to HITS which would happen if you were to chop into a completely helpless target. At this point your luck has run out and your body (CON) takes the shot.

 

[Lacyon]

Actual hits are meant to represent things that wear down the defenses, luck, and battle readiness of the victim as opposed to HITS which would happen if you were to chop into a completely helpless target. At this point your luck has run out and your body (CON) takes the shot.

Psychic assaults can't wear down your defenses, luck and battle readiness, then?

I think my favorite idea for "critical wounding" rules was posted on this board before 4E even came out. It went something like this: when you fail a third "wound save" while unconscious or are reduced to negative bloodied, your character is severely wounded to the point of being unable to fight. He may have lost a limb, or have a collapsed lung. There is a ritual that can heal these wounds - it's level 8, costs 500 gp to cast and, a target cured by the ritual has a -1 penalty on attacks, saves, ability checks and skill checks until he's been through ~6 encounters (because his muscles are atrophied in the downtime and/or he has to get used to his regrown limb). For some mysterious reason, the ritual becomes a lot more expensive to cast on Paragon or Epic characters. If you want to figure out why, you can <insert adventure hook here>.

 

[Shadeydm]

Which is funny when you think about it.

"I subdue him with my firecube."

Classic!

 

[ExploderWizard]

Psychic assaults can't wear down your defenses, luck and battle readiness, then?

Sure they can, they just don't do hp damage. A psychic assault has an actual effect on the mind such as emotion manipulation and sensory alteration.

 

[Cadfan]

Sure they can, they just don't do hp damage. A psychic assault has an actual effect on the mind such as emotion manipulation and sensory alteration.

Aww, poor Phantasmal Killer! ExploderWizard doesn't like it!