[CoC] Vitality/Wounds vs Hit Points

[Sir Apropos]

Does anyone else out there plan on using the Vitality and Wound Point system instead of Hit Points for CoC besides me?

It surprised me somewhat that CoC had a Hit Point System similar to D&D when most of the other Modern/Future settings that WOTC has put out lately in Dungeon have the Vitality/Wound Point system. Even WOTC's own Horror setting Shadow Chasers had it in Dungeon and it seems that D20 Modern will also be that way.

I realize they did it to keep it more in line with original CoC since it also used Hp but I would have like to have seen optional rules for playing with Vitality/Wound Points. Hopefully we'll see something like that in the CoC GM's Screen from Chaosium.

It just makes more sense to me to use V/WP in a modern day setting that includes Firearms.

 

[Ranger REG]

Well, you could always try to port over the VP/WP health system. It shouldn't be too difficult.

 

[Brantai]

Personally, I thought the massive damage rules made HP quite deadly enough to be used in a modern or low-fantasy game, CoC included.

 

[Ranger REG]

Too deadly, IMHO. But then again, that is one of the beautiful elements that makes up Call of Cthulhu. The PCs are not heroes, they are lambs heading to a slaughter.

BWAH-HA-HA-HA!!!

 

[danzig138]

I'm trying

I just recently started a (modified) CoC game, and I'm going to give the VP/WP a try. Apparently, the reason they went with HP is because Mr. Cook really doesn't like the VP/WP system. I was under the impression that final decision for Modern was straight HP.

 

[Caliber]

d20 Modern uses Hp now. Outside of Star Wars, I am unaware of any system that uses Vitality/Wound (at least, of any system produced by WotC.)

But anyway, remember that in several ways, Vitality/Wound can be MORE deadly than Hps. I am not sure if that is the effect you are going for, but as is, CoC is pretty damn lethal.

 

[bwgwl]

sure. with criticals bypassing VP and going straight to Wounds, one good shot can take you out no matter what level you are. it can make combat a lot more deadly than with HP.

i notice in the Revised Star Wars, things like falling damage also by default go to Wounds first (though you can make a Reflex save to apply it to Vitality instead).

 

[Hammerhead]

At low levels, VP/WP is probably more forgiving than normal HP. A first level guy could have 10 HP, 12 with CON. Or he could have 12 VP and then another 14 WP with the same CON score. He can take twice as much punishment before going down.

Since CoC characters seem to die early and often instead of advancing, the VP WP system would probably decrease lethality.

 

[bwgwl]

well, not necessarily -- it really depends on how much damage the weapons are doing.

the only VP/WP system i have any experience with is Star Wars, and the standard weapons of that game do a fair bit of damage.

your average fighter in D&D with a, say, 14 Con is going to have 12 hit points at 1st level. an average weapon in D&D (like a longsword) is going to do around 4.5 points of damage per hit (assuming no Str bonuses). it'll take 3 average hits to take him down, and he can survive an average critical (9 damage) if he hasn't been hit yet.

your average soldier in SW with a 14 Con will have 12 Vitality and 14 Wounds. an average weapon in SW, like a blaster rifle, does 3d8 damage (average 13.5). it'll take 2 average hits to take him down. if the critical is even slightly above average, it'll drop him even if it's the first shot of the combat.

this doesn't even take into account becoming fatigued (-2 to effective Str and Dex) the moment you take any Wound damage, further degrading your combat ability.

in a game like SW, the extra "hit points" are an illusion because the weapons all do so much more damage.

 

[Jaws]

Massive Damage

I use the Hit Point System that d20 CoC uses. And the Massive Damage rule in d20 CoC makes it quite deadly.
The only change I made is that if a character sustains 16 or more points of damage in a single attack, that character must make a Fortitude saving throw equal to damage taken.
And 10 to 15 points of damage still equal Fort DC 15.



Peace and smiles

j.