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<blockquote data-quote="AbdulAlhazred" data-source="post: 7585419" data-attributes="member: 82106">I'd have to really dig around to find some examples, but there were a number of times when Gygax addressed this. I don't think its directly stated anywhere in 1e, but he appeared to hold the opinion that hit points were a mechanism which was largely intended to regulate armed combat between active opponents. In other types of situations, such as the one you suggest, I think his answer would have been &quot;the character dies of a horrible throat wound.&quot; Even within 1e instant death is certainly possible in rules terms. An assassin can simply kill a target, no hit points are involved whatsoever (though you can argue about whether or not NPC assassins exist and if they can use this mechanic against a PC). There are a few places in modules and discussion where Gary, or at least TSR, used or advised use of a death save as well. This could be a good way to adjudicate jumping off a 400' cliff for example.OTOH AD&amp;D doesn't specifically state any of this consistently and hit points are certainly thought of as the default damage mechanism. So a player would probably be expecting, and would have good reason to expect, that this mechanism would prevail in your example. I can almost guarantee dismay at the table in any case, and this is a weakness of the Gygax model of D&amp;D. One which others sought to overcome in various ways. Modern RPGs with their models of intent, action, and consequence often avoid these issues.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="AbdulAlhazred, post: 7585419, member: 82106"] I'd have to really dig around to find some examples, but there were a number of times when Gygax addressed this. I don't think its directly stated anywhere in 1e, but he appeared to hold the opinion that hit points were a mechanism which was largely intended to regulate armed combat between active opponents. In other types of situations, such as the one you suggest, I think his answer would have been "the character dies of a horrible throat wound." Even within 1e instant death is certainly possible in rules terms. An assassin can simply kill a target, no hit points are involved whatsoever (though you can argue about whether or not NPC assassins exist and if they can use this mechanic against a PC). There are a few places in modules and discussion where Gary, or at least TSR, used or advised use of a death save as well. This could be a good way to adjudicate jumping off a 400' cliff for example. OTOH AD&D doesn't specifically state any of this consistently and hit points are certainly thought of as the default damage mechanism. So a player would probably be expecting, and would have good reason to expect, that this mechanism would prevail in your example. I can almost guarantee dismay at the table in any case, and this is a weakness of the Gygax model of D&D. One which others sought to overcome in various ways. Modern RPGs with their models of intent, action, and consequence often avoid these issues. [/QUOTE]

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