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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Oofta" data-source="post: 8614108" data-attributes="member: 6801845">So it seems we've devolved into the old "HP sucks" argument.  I guess it was inevitable.My take?  Either a game tracks damage and location with appropriate penalties or it does not.  While I don't have wide experience with TTRPGs, I have played a wide variety of video games.  The only games I can think of that track detailed damage* are for vehicles - whether you're piloting some traditional vehicle like a space ship with shields or piloting a mech.  With Mech Warriors for example you could lose the use of a missile bank or have various components overheat and become unusable.Every FPS I've ever played from Doom on only has HP.  Occasionally when you get low enough your vision goes red or something, but it doesn't really make a difference because it's just an indicator.So ... you have 1 case where damage specifics matter because it has an immediate impact on game play.  In every other case, it's ignored because HP only tracks one thing: are you capable of fighting back.  Basically the games track damage and you less capable of fighting which can lead to death spiral or it's a mere flesh wound or out of the fight.Which has been kind of my point.  A death spiral can be interesting challenge, but most games don't implement it because it's extra overhead and isn't as much fun for most.  Tracking damage specifics if it has no mechanical impact doesn't add any real value to the game, it just adds overhead so we leave it up to the group.  Want to describe wounds because it adds to immersion or tone?  I do this sometimes, especially for monsters.  But I wouldn't want the overhead of a system telling me this and I can imagine how complex it would need to be to be "accurate".I don't want a death spiral ala Mech Warrior because it would add so much complexity.  So is HP simulation?  I don't really care.  Does it tell me anything?  Of course it does, just not "fluff" that some people insist is necessary.  What level of fluff would do it?  How accurate would a simulation have to be to be considered a simulation?  Why does it matter?*Yes, I'm sure there are exceptions for games that I've never played.  Aiming at specific location such as the head can lead to more damage, but it's still just generic damage.</blockquote>

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