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Assumptions on Hit Points and Armor Class...
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<blockquote data-quote="Mercule" data-source="post: 7104653" data-attributes="member: 5100"><p>As others have said, <u>don't overthink it.</u> If you want a certain amount of thought within your hand-waving, then here's how I deal with it:</p><p></p><p>AC represents your ability to <u>avoid</u> any injury/damage/consequence of an attack. Meaning that, if an attack misses, you might have dodged it, it may have bounced off your shield, or some variation/combination/alternative narration. Whatever the reason, there is no effect, lasting or transitory.</p><p></p><p>HP represents your ability to <u>mitigate</u> any injury/damage/consequence of an attack. You might <u>almost</u> dodge it, dodged it entirely but wrenched your shoulder, be tough enough to suffer a bruise instead of a broken bone, veteran enough to not flinch or be shocked, deflected it with your armor but it started to tire you out, lucky enough to have caught the flat of the blade instead of the edge, or any other narrative excuse for needing a kiss from Mommy instead of being skewered. There's an effect, but it's not serious (until it is). Resting overnight will generally restore you to a point where there's no real side effects.</p><p></p><p>Hit Dice represent more enduring effects of combat. You can still fight at full strength for a bit but wrenching your back, yesterday, means you'll get tired faster than normal.</p><p></p><p>When you start throwing in saving throws, falling damage, etc. it gets really wonky. This doesn't really provide a full explanation. At best, any model is only going to ease suspension of disbelief.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Mercule, post: 7104653, member: 5100"] As others have said, [U]don't overthink it.[/U] If you want a certain amount of thought within your hand-waving, then here's how I deal with it: AC represents your ability to [U]avoid[/U] any injury/damage/consequence of an attack. Meaning that, if an attack misses, you might have dodged it, it may have bounced off your shield, or some variation/combination/alternative narration. Whatever the reason, there is no effect, lasting or transitory. HP represents your ability to [U]mitigate[/U] any injury/damage/consequence of an attack. You might [U]almost[/U] dodge it, dodged it entirely but wrenched your shoulder, be tough enough to suffer a bruise instead of a broken bone, veteran enough to not flinch or be shocked, deflected it with your armor but it started to tire you out, lucky enough to have caught the flat of the blade instead of the edge, or any other narrative excuse for needing a kiss from Mommy instead of being skewered. There's an effect, but it's not serious (until it is). Resting overnight will generally restore you to a point where there's no real side effects. Hit Dice represent more enduring effects of combat. You can still fight at full strength for a bit but wrenching your back, yesterday, means you'll get tired faster than normal. When you start throwing in saving throws, falling damage, etc. it gets really wonky. This doesn't really provide a full explanation. At best, any model is only going to ease suspension of disbelief. [/QUOTE]
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