D&D General How does your PC interact with hit points?

[Cadence]

So, pick an edition of D&D and imagine you're in a game that's being run by the default settings. In particular, hits and damage don't really have a specified narration (maybe you're getting tired, or nicked, or bruised, or small cuts, or are running out of luck), although either you or the DM might give some. How does your character relate to damage and their hit point total?

 

[Stormonu]

As DM or player, I've always acted with the character having full knowledge of hit point status. It isn't something where one character will turn to another and say "I'm down to 8 hit points, we need to finish this guy or the next round I'm gonna be done," but I have no problem with the player having his character act on such information or communicating it to others. I realize HP is a game mechanic and I assume in the game world the characters are communicating their general status (visible wounds, banter or "feeling") in in-world means. I just don't bother with how that's done.

 

[Vaalingrade]

PC knows they're being worn down by the progress of the fight commiserate with HP.

The manifestation of this is based on the character. Killpretty the barbarian is being cut and bruised to hell and back, but Kaiel Arunsteadeles the bard doens't have a scratch on him until he his zero, but he's feeling winded and punchy.

 

[Hussar]

As DM or player, I've always acted with the character having full knowledge of hit point status. It isn't something where one character will turn to another and say "I'm down to 8 hit points, we need to finish this guy or the next round I'm gonna be done," but I have no problem with the player having his character act on such information or communicating it to others. I realize HP is a game mechanic and I assume in the game world the characters are communicating their general status (visible wounds, banter or "feeling") in in-world means. I just don't bother with how that's done.

Yup, pretty much agree.

 

[DND_Reborn]

My PC doesn't know anything about hit points--which are an in-game mechanic. Is all the "damage" (poor term) they have taken from "hits" (also a poor term) physical injury, fatigue, luck depletion, or something else? Until the DM narrates the exchange, there is no spoon. Even at that point, it is immaterial how the PC withstood the damage.

So, my character does not relate to damage and their hit point total in any fashion as they are meaningless really except as a game mechanic. They have no game impact other than a binary state of fully functional or unconscious (unfortunately...).

 

[theCourier]

They're all meat (in my games/POV). Every single one of them. However, not every HP and hit is equal. At Level 1, with a measly 6 or so HP each hit is dangerous, even one that deals 1 HP of damage. Experience and Levels represent not only the character getting better at their role, but getting better at surviving combat. 5 HP at Level 1 is a blow that leaves you on Death's Door. At Level 10, it's a different blow that probably leaves a scar and that's either because it's not a near-lethal blow or because your character has learned how to move about in combat to defend from such blows.

So I guess the 4th option would be the one that fits the most in my situation.

 

[Charlaquin]

I voted for the third option, though I find the phrasing of it a bit odd. The player is free to have their character act or not act on the information of how many hit points they have, as they see fit. That’s information they have access to, I have no interest in policing their ability to pretend they don’t have access to it.

 

[Vaalingrade]

They're all meat (in my games/POV). Every single one of them. However, not every HP and hit is equal. At Level 1, with a measly 6 or so HP each hit is dangerous, even one that deals 1 HP of damage. Experience and Levels represent not only the character getting better at their role, but getting better at surviving combat. 5 HP at Level 1 is a blow that leaves you on Death's Door. At Level 10, it's a different blow that probably leaves a scar and that's either because it's not a near-lethal blow or because your character has learned how to move about in combat to defend from such blows.

So I guess the 4th option would be the one that fits the most in my situation.

So... what happens when you take psychic damage from a bard hurting your feeling with Vicious Mockery?

 

[theCourier]

So... what happens when you take psychic damage from a bard hurting your feeling with Vicious Mockery?

Good question. Probably something like a massive headache, or neural damage of some sort? I'm not too sure about the specifics, though.

Maybe a bit over the top, but I feel like it's more cohesive with the POV I set up.

 

[Bill Zebub]

I voted for the third option, though I find the phrasing of it a bit odd. The player is free to have their character act or not act on the information of how many hit points they have, as they see fit. That’s information they have access to, I have no interest in policing their ability to pretend they don’t have access to it.

Same. It was the only answer that fit, but the description of it was off.