D&D 5E Should the Fighter's "Second Wind" ability grant temporary HP instead of regular HP?

[Bluenose]

At which point you get the interesting position where people wander around knowing that they can't be killed with a sword; because if the only start worrying when their hit points are low, obviously swords are bad at killing healthy and experineed people.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

5hp to an 8hp fighter does have an effect. all you have to do is look at that players face and it'll be clear that it's a grievous wound. not all effects have a solid mechanical basis. sometimes it's the players dread when they only have 3hp left in a deadly fight

Not unless one is using the term "grievous" in it's most metaphorical capacity, in that it is causing grief to this metagame being, the player! If you mean it that, way, sure!

 

[Thaumaturge]

At which point you get the interesting position where people wander around knowing that they can't be killed with a sword; because if the only start worrying when their hit points are low, obviously swords are bad at killing healthy and experineed people.

Doesn't that match expectations in gaming, fiction, and life? Experienced warriors walk around as if they're indestructible. They are confident to the point of cockiness.

Because weapons, in the hands of the inexperienced, are bad at killing them. They're alive to prove the point.

Thaumaturge.

 

[Bluenose]

Doesn't that match expectations in gaming, fiction, and life? Experienced warriors walk around as if they're indestructible. They are confident to the point of cockiness.

Because weapons, in the hands of the inexperienced, are bad at killing them. They're alive to prove the point.

Thaumaturge.

And then they come up against someone equally experienced, and in D&D can be equally certain that they're still not going to take a lethal blow in the first few seconds of the fight. There's a reason many fights with skilled participants involve a period of "feeling out" the enemy, and it's probably hard to argue that's because the fighters involved are confident they can't be taken down quickly.

 

[Thaumaturge]

And then they come up against someone equally experienced, and in D&D can be equally certain that they're still not going to take a lethal blow in the first few seconds of the fight. There's a reason many fights with skilled participants involve a period of "feeling out" the enemy, and it's probably hard to argue that's because the fighters involved are confident they can't be taken down quickly.

And I think one could reasonably argue that "a period of 'feeling out' the enemy" is a good explanation for the hitpoint reduction that happens before the final blow.

Thaumaturge.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Doesn't that match expectations in gaming, fiction, and life? Experienced warriors walk around as if they're indestructible. They are confident to the point of cockiness.

Because weapons, in the hands of the inexperienced, are bad at killing them. They're alive to prove the point.

Thaumaturge.

That is funny

 

[pemerton]

And I think one could reasonably argue that "a period of 'feeling out' the enemy" is a good explanation for the hitpoint reduction that happens before the final blow.

I think this is reasonable, yes. It tends to imply that some (much?) hit point loss, even in rather large numbers, doesn't correspond to grievous wounds. (Which I think you agree with.)

 

[Bluenose]

And I think one could reasonably argue that "a period of 'feeling out' the enemy" is a good explanation for the hitpoint reduction that happens before the final blow.

Thaumaturge.

I think this is reasonable, yes. It tends to imply that some (much?) hit point loss, even in rather large numbers, doesn't correspond to grievous wounds. (Which I think you agree with.)

The problem is that you also have the situation where someone pulls out a trick the other person doesn't know, and wins the fight in the first few seconds. D&D gives you either that at low levels, or a long period of testing each others defences at higher levels (followed by a decisive blow), but doesn't typically allow for a quick result against an opponent with a lot of hit points or for a long battle with a low-hit point one.

 

[BoldItalic]

This was found on a scrap of parchment on the corpse of an orc runner. What should we make of it?

From Orc King Grumbshod to all military commanders,
Greetings! You are to inform your troops that Blogshott's Tactic is no longer to be employed. Hitherto, when an enemy warrior stopped attacking unexpectedly and cried "Sekondd Winns", it was a signal for our glorious troops to disengage, seem to flee, wait for 10 minutes the relaunch their attack. Things have changed. Henceforth, if an enemy warrior cries "Sekondd Winns" whilst continuing to attack, the approved tactic now is to rally the orc comrades and press home our attack with all ferocity, for it will be a sure sign that he is in mortal fear and close to death.

 

[pemerton]

The problem is that you also have the situation where someone pulls out a trick the other person doesn't know, and wins the fight in the first few seconds. D&D gives you either that at low levels, or a long period of testing each others defences at higher levels (followed by a decisive blow), but doesn't typically allow for a quick result against an opponent with a lot of hit points or for a long battle with a low-hit point one.

Agreed - although I'm not sure it's a problem - at least, when playing D&D I'm happy to just suck it up.

Also - if a player declared that s/he wanted a particular duel to be a "one blow kill" event, I think I'd be happy to run it that way, and resolve it as a single attack by each character against the other. (In effect the player has agreed to minionise his/her PC, and in exchange I minionise the opponent.) But that has never come up!