Invisibility and Arrows

[AuraSeer]

While I understand the point you are trying to make, I don't think that somehow because you have more hp arrows now only graze off you and never stick into you.

It sounds silly, but it's part of the abstraction of D&D.

If I fireball someone for 30 points of damage, that doesn't necessarily mean I inflict serious burns. Against a first-level commoner, sure, I turn him into charcoal. But if the target is a Brb20, I barely singe his eyebrows. Both take the same number of hit points worth of "damage", but the barbarian has a superior Dude Factor (TM kreynolds) that prevents him from actually being hurt.

Ever wonder why your PC has never lost a finger in a sword fight? Or why even a heavy mace can't break bones? Don't. This game doesn't work that way.

 

[Szordrin]

It sounds silly, but it's part of the abstraction of D&D.

If I fireball someone for 30 points of damage, that doesn't necessarily mean I inflict serious burns. Against a first-level commoner, sure, I turn him into charcoal. But if the target is a Brb20, I barely singe his eyebrows. Both take the same number of hit points worth of "damage", but the barbarian has a superior Dude Factor (TM kreynolds) that prevents him from actually being hurt.

Ever wonder why your PC has never lost a finger in a sword fight? Or why even a heavy mace can't break bones? Don't. This game doesn't work that way.

I understand the need for abstraction in certain aspects of D&D but I just don't think it's warranted here. Why can't more hps just mean that you are able to take more damage. Why does it have to mean that the damage that you do is somehow not as effective (arrows to actually stick into creatures, a cleave with a great battleaxe doesn't leave a big gash only a scratch, etc) because they have more hps. These types of things are covered by the concept of DR imo.

I would actually visualize a 20th level barbarian with several broken bones, massive wounds all over his bloody body before he would eventually go down. Whereas a 1st level wizard might go down with a single punch from a "tough" guy and just because he went down doesn't mean I caved his skull in.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Why can't more hps just mean that you are able to take more damage.

I'm going to go back to the 1E PHB for a quote.

"A certain amount of these hit points represent the actual physical punishment which can be sustained. The remainder, a significant portion of hit points at higher levels, stands for skill, luck, and/or magical factors. A typical man-at-arms can take about 5 hit points of damage before being killed. Let us suppose that a 10th level fighter has 55 hit points, plus a bonus of 30 hit points for his Constitution, for a total of 85 hit points. This is the equivalent of about 18 hit dice for creatures, about what it would take to kill four huge warhorses! It is ridiculous to assume that even a fantastic fighter can take that much punishment. The same holds true to a lesser extent for clerics, thieves, and the other classes. Thus, the majority of hit points are symbolic of combat skill, luck (bestowed by supernatural powers), and magical forces."

Alternatively, for the 3E version, read "What Hit Points Represent" on PHB p128.

-Hyp.

 

[kreynolds]

Whereas a 1st level wizard might go down with a single punch from a "tough" guy and just because he went down doesn't mean I caved his skull in.

And just because you hit me with an arrow doesn't mean that it sticks, and even if it does, there is no in-game effect beyond me losing hit points, dying, falling unconcious, etc, whatsoever. Sometimes prestige classes can accomplish special feats with a bow and arrow or crossbow and bolt, but that's it.