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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jack Colby" data-source="post: 4873197" data-attributes="member: 54634">I've never felt the need to explain it, nor have players asked for an explanation.  Obviously the "Damage" taken was impairing at the time, but not really that permanent.Also remember that PCs in combat are doing all they can to minimize the deadliness of the attacks against them, that's why a sword thrust doesn't, you know, kill them instantly.  So yes, it is also the fatigue of battle and avoiding all those deadly blows that lower HP.  Why don't HP lower when climbing a cliff or running a marathon?  Because they are a measure of how vulnerable a PC is to serious injury/death.  If that threat isn't there, sure, they may get tired, but pushing it too far (which would be falling to low HP in a combat) won't result in letting their guard down so an orc can stab them fatally.  In combat, that happens.</blockquote>