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<blockquote data-quote="JustinAlexander" data-source="post: 6038980" data-attributes="member: 6700092"><p>Pre-4E there were two ways to explain the hit point mechanics:</p><p></p><p>(1) Getting "hit" didn't mean you'd actually gotten hit or seriously wounded until you reached 0 hit points.</p><p></p><p>(2) All hit point loss represented a physical wound, but the system also modeled luck, skill, etc. because <a href="http://thealexandrian.net/wordpress/1034/roleplaying-games/explaining-hit-points" target="_blank">1 hp didn't equal 1 hp</a>.</p><p></p><p>Arguing that one of these was "true" and the other "wasn't true" is a dead end in discussions like these because (a) both of them have their inconsistencies within the abstraction of the system and (b) people have been playing with one or the other for 10 or 20 or 30 or 40 years.</p><p></p><p>Starting with 4E, the second explanation (which had actually been the predominant explanation in most previous iterations of the rulebook and, most notably, in the 3E rulebooks) was completely removed from the game. It's a really key example of how the "big tent" WotC was aiming for actually ended up being a really tiny tent that excluded a lot of people.</p><p></p><p>So when people look at the D&D Next playtest materials and see the exact same, tiny tent being erected in a really obvious and annoyingly persistent section of the rules... yeah. They're going to have problems with it.</p><p></p><p>On the plus side, although I haven't completely looked over the newest playtest packet, it looks like they're still avoiding the Schrodinger's Hit Point from 4E. ("Oh crap! That sword thrust just dropped my character to 0 hp! Was it because it cut me open like a gutted fish? Or did it miss me entirely and I'm just cowering in hapless terror? There's no way to know until Bob either uses his Boost Morale ability on me or Suzie uses her Heal Fish-Gutting Wounds ability on me!") Those mechanics made it absolutely impossible to describe the game world during 4E combat unless you were comfortable retconning your decisions shortly thereafter.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="JustinAlexander, post: 6038980, member: 6700092"] Pre-4E there were two ways to explain the hit point mechanics: (1) Getting "hit" didn't mean you'd actually gotten hit or seriously wounded until you reached 0 hit points. (2) All hit point loss represented a physical wound, but the system also modeled luck, skill, etc. because [url=http://thealexandrian.net/wordpress/1034/roleplaying-games/explaining-hit-points]1 hp didn't equal 1 hp[/url]. Arguing that one of these was "true" and the other "wasn't true" is a dead end in discussions like these because (a) both of them have their inconsistencies within the abstraction of the system and (b) people have been playing with one or the other for 10 or 20 or 30 or 40 years. Starting with 4E, the second explanation (which had actually been the predominant explanation in most previous iterations of the rulebook and, most notably, in the 3E rulebooks) was completely removed from the game. It's a really key example of how the "big tent" WotC was aiming for actually ended up being a really tiny tent that excluded a lot of people. So when people look at the D&D Next playtest materials and see the exact same, tiny tent being erected in a really obvious and annoyingly persistent section of the rules... yeah. They're going to have problems with it. On the plus side, although I haven't completely looked over the newest playtest packet, it looks like they're still avoiding the Schrodinger's Hit Point from 4E. ("Oh crap! That sword thrust just dropped my character to 0 hp! Was it because it cut me open like a gutted fish? Or did it miss me entirely and I'm just cowering in hapless terror? There's no way to know until Bob either uses his Boost Morale ability on me or Suzie uses her Heal Fish-Gutting Wounds ability on me!") Those mechanics made it absolutely impossible to describe the game world during 4E combat unless you were comfortable retconning your decisions shortly thereafter. [/QUOTE]
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