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Message: <blockquote data-quote="BSF" data-source="post: 2790378" data-attributes="member: 13098">One thing that I probably didn't make very clear is the implication of how damage and HP end up working.  If you look at the different ways that damage is handled, you will recognize that there are certain ideas and concepts that do not work as well depending on how damage is handled.  These can be fundamental things that change the entire flavor of a campaign.  Let me give you an example using yet another alternative system.HP as defined by your constitution stat & level.  OK, that sounds straightforward enough right?  I mean, that is what D&D uses right?  At least it looks like it, until you realize I mean, quite literally your Con stat.Let's take a 1st level fighter with Str 16, Con 15, Dex 10, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 9 - Classic 25 pt build.  In normal D&D, you would figure out HP by maxing out a d10, then adding Con bonus: 10 + 2 = 12.  In this variant, you would figure out HP by using the Con score and adding in # of HD:  15 + 1 = 16At second level, the D&D base fighter would add in a d10 + Con bonus for HP.  The variant fighter would add 1, for the second HD.  At 10th level, our D&D fighter would likely be approaching 100+ HP.  Our variant HP fighter would have Con stat + 10.  Since it would be likely that the character bumped up Con at 4th or 8th level, we will assume 26 HP.  That's it!  26 HP for a 10th level fighter.  Most of you will sit there right now with your eyes huge, maybe with your jaw open and you are thinking that this guy will be killed in one bad crit.  You might be thinking there has to be some sort of catch.  Because right now even a couple of goblins looks kinda scary to a 10th level fighter.  Actually, that is the point.  A campaign style where death is always that close does a lot to change the mood and ambiance of a game.  It is a constant reminder that death might be one longbow shot away.  (Mighty composite longbow +2 1d8/x3 could get a crit and do 30 points of damage.)  The thing is, this type of campaign style can still be very enjoyable.  This type of campaign becomes heroic because of what the PCs do in the face of that danger rather than the fact that they can wade through an entire tribe of goblins and might not even get scratched.  In the face of danger, our heroes boldly assembled to stalk into the graveyard at midnight to finally face the ghoul terrorizing the town.  Some, perhaps even all, of them might not live to see the sun rise.  But they girded themselves to face this evil because the people of this town did not deserve to be preyed upon by the forces of darkness.  They shouldn't have to live in fear that one night they might be woken by the smell of a charnel house as a coldness froze their limbs just before the teeth of the ghoul tore at their flesh.  The townsfolk said the ghoul could not be beaten.  But our heroes stood to face the ghoul.  Because in the face of such depravity and darkness, somebody had to.  Else, goodness and hope would fade from the world.It is a completely different style of heroism, but it is a perfectly viable game style to play.  D20 has that flexibility to use the same basic mechanics and just change a few things to adjust the play style.  So when I ask questions about changes, part of what I am looking for is what style of game you might find enjoyable.  Default D&D is almost like fantasy superheroes.  That can be fun. But if you are looking to have that feeling of constant danger and heroes are defined by the people who face that danger, standard D&D isn't the absolute best way to handle it.  D&D with tweaks and adjustments could work though.  So be sure to think through some of those implications and comment on them.  There isn't a right or wrong answer, there are just the things you think might be fun.  All that being said, I did not bring up the above variant HP system because I am not sure we would all enjoy the significant changes it would bring about.  It could make for a fun mini-campaign, but for a long-term game, I just don't know.</blockquote>

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