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<blockquote data-quote="Uller" data-source="post: 7843135" data-attributes="member: 413">Something I came to realize of late: characters in my D&amp;D games DO behave differently when low on hp.&nbsp; It doesn't require death spiral rules to make you feel like a character is wounded...it can be narrated...The player of a PC with 50 max hp but only 5 hp left is going to behave very differently than his compatriots who are near full health.The wounded PC that just took 15 damage from a troll and now knows he is 1 hit away from dropping to 0 hp is going to be looking for an out to avoid going down.&nbsp; He might disengage or risk a single AoO to avoid the full fury of a multiattack action.&nbsp; Or he might spend resources he was going to conserve. Other PCs invariably change their plans to help the wounded friend.I do the same with NPCs amd monsters...if a wolf pack is attacking the party, the wolf that just took a big hit from the fighter is going to slink away and avoid anymore attacks while packmates move to help its escape.&nbsp; Some monsters become more dangerous, using any unexpended resources they have remaining.&nbsp; Abilities that triggered off the bloodied condition in 4e were cool for this.But honestly...I have never been bothered by what hitpoints are and are not.&nbsp; They have always just been whatever we needed them to be at the moment.In a recent game at my table the player of a PC that was low on hp was asked by others if he could do something...he responded &quot;I don't think so...I'm pretty badly wounded.&quot;So I chimed in with &quot;you see Sebastian is bleeding and staggering.&nbsp; He is holding firm against the enemy but you realize it wont be for long...&quot; to which the acting player responded &quot;okay...then I'm healing Sebastian and will cover for him to retreat.&quot;HP worked just fine.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Uller, post: 7843135, member: 413"] Something I came to realize of late: characters in my D&D games DO behave differently when low on hp. It doesn't require death spiral rules to make you feel like a character is wounded...it can be narrated... The player of a PC with 50 max hp but only 5 hp left is going to behave very differently than his compatriots who are near full health. The wounded PC that just took 15 damage from a troll and now knows he is 1 hit away from dropping to 0 hp is going to be looking for an out to avoid going down. He might disengage or risk a single AoO to avoid the full fury of a multiattack action. Or he might spend resources he was going to conserve. Other PCs invariably change their plans to help the wounded friend. I do the same with NPCs amd monsters...if a wolf pack is attacking the party, the wolf that just took a big hit from the fighter is going to slink away and avoid anymore attacks while packmates move to help its escape. Some monsters become more dangerous, using any unexpended resources they have remaining. Abilities that triggered off the bloodied condition in 4e were cool for this. But honestly...I have never been bothered by what hitpoints are and are not. They have always just been whatever we needed them to be at the moment. In a recent game at my table the player of a PC that was low on hp was asked by others if he could do something...he responded "I don't think so...I'm pretty badly wounded." So I chimed in with "you see Sebastian is bleeding and staggering. He is holding firm against the enemy but you realize it wont be for long..." to which the acting player responded "okay...then I'm healing Sebastian and will cover for him to retreat." HP worked just fine. [/QUOTE]

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