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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Khur" data-source="post: 4008773" data-attributes="member: 5583">One point that needs to be emphasized, again, is that the "interpretation" of hit points as something more than raw physical integrity is not a new one. It has existed almost as long, if not as long, as the D&D game has. If you have trouble with that aspect of the game, your trouble isn't anything new either. The abstractness of hit points is something I've struggled with in a narrative sense in my D&D games for, well, ever.The only new aspects are:—Each PC, and thereby player, has more control over healing. I'd like to point out that I never mentioned NPCs or monsters having these things.—Healing surges combine with hit points to form a "death avoidance" resource. The use of healing surges is limited and often beyond an individual player's control, except for with regard to second wind. PCs have gone down in combats I've participated in without having the chance to use even one healing surge by any means.If the idea that a creature just goes crazy at the sight of someone’s weakness (bloodied condition) and makes multiple attacks in a bloodthirsty zeal because of that seems ridiculous to you, I won’t be able to convince you otherwise. I’m not going to try to convince you. I will say plenty of media other than the D&D game and other RPGs show and support this type of cinematic behavior—Bruce Lee, Conan, WWE, Cap’n. Mal of Firefly, and on and on. I can also say that nobody who’s played 4e and been on the receiving end of these abilities feels the same. The same goes for any creature in a bloodied condition that uses or loses an ability because of it—bloodied is a weakened state. Some creatures take advantage of that weakness in others by going on an attack spree, like the yuan-ti does, and others react to their own weakness by pulling out all the stops, like the dragon does. Other possibilities also exist and are played on with monsters.That the yuan-ti atacks those who aren't bloodied when inspired to do so by seeing a weakened target seems to me to just be a natural outgrowth of that inspiration. It doesn't seem unreasonable to me at all, similar to the berserker strength rage alternative for the barbarian presented in 3e's PH2. Hoepfully, in your evaluation, you aren't assuming the yuan-ti can do this all the time or anything else not openly detailed about the power. Most such powers have carefully constructed controls and timing built in.Another aspect that isn't new in D&D game is the idea that every party member is an utter name-taker, in some way, when it comes to combat. True, at least, at levels higher than about 3rd or 4th. D&D heroes regularly take on and defeat monsters that could destroy entire cities if let loose to do so. That's part of the game that has always existed and has always been fun. If you have trouble with that aspect of D&D, your trouble isn't anything new either. This aspect of D&D hasn’t ever bothered me, except at levels when it’s not true (I’m looking at you, 1st level). If I wanted a highly simulationist game, I wouldn’t choose the D&D game, as written, to do it.D&D is an utterly cinematic fantasy game that allows players to co-create and experience a narrative about high-fantasy adventures. It’s a game first and foremost, meaning the entertainment value to the players is most important. That fun is as much based on how the rules allow players to act through their characters as it is about story. My experience is that the 4e rules try and succeed better than other editions at getting out of the way of the fun, unless someone is hung up on largely meaningless minutiae or lacking in imagination. My players are demanding in the roleplaying and narrative departments, so I know where snags can occur. But even my hardcore roleplayers think this version of the game is more fun than any other they’ve played. Many have played them all, as well as many other RPGs, for years and years. Sure, they had opinions on certain rules upon hearing or reading about them, but many negative opinions quickly changed when play showed the whole system working together.Unfortunately, we can't have that discussion yet.</blockquote>

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