Poll: VP & WP or HP ?

[PowerWordDumb]

HP now and forever

While I sort of understand the "the game mechanics have to make perfect sense!" point of view, HP's have always been a simple, fast, useful abstraction which do their job and simplify game flow. Maybe it's because I'm an IT architect and abstractions just *work* for me on a deep level - I don't know.

Any serious believability (within an RPG context here with elves and dwarves and spells and such) issues should be easily handled by any vaguely talented DM when the situation arises.

I just don'[t see a downside to the HP mechanic we've all grown up with. People can do what they want in their games, but we'll be staying with HP thank you very much.

 

[Jack Daniel]

Grim-n-Gritty does this better.

No... no it doesn't.

 

[Zappo]

I'm with HP. I don't care about realism, not even a little bit. What I do want is a fast and simple system that allows the characters to perform heroic actions on a regular basis.

 

[Bob5th]

Neither I nor my group have any problems with HP so why mess with something that works?

 

[Ravellion]

[...] on a regular basis.

Which is why I like VP (hourly rejuvenation). But I too do not think criticals shlould deal damage directly to WP. perhaps an amount equal to it's damage multiplier would be better (ie. Longsword 1d8 VP damage, crit 2d8 VP damage, 2 WP damage)

 

[willpax]

I don't find VP/WP to be all that much more complicated in practice.

And the threat of real harm even in an unbalanced fight (due to criticals) makes every combat just a bit riskier, and therefore a bit more fun (for my group--I'm not claiming that everyone else needs to think this way).

I don't claim that VP/WP are "realistic" or any other adjective that doesn't fit any part of D&D that well. I just like the effects of that particular mechanic.

 

[Chauzu]

You're joking, right? You've never heard of vitality points and wound points? You've never seen Star Wars d20 or Polyhedron Magazine?

Don't have nor read.

And isn't it spelled "Chaozu?" At least, that's how it's spelled in all the Dragonball mangas I have here next to my computer...

Yup, but it is spelled like this for web tradition.

 

[Chauzu]

You know Jack, it is possible that there are gamers that don't play Star Wars or read Polyhedron. Like me for instance.

I am familiar with VP/WP, and here's how I understand it. Essentially it divides HP between Vitality Points and Wound Points.

VP works pretty much like hit points. Get hit, take damage. Only exception is for crits or other 'special' damage. These go on WP, as does all damage once your VP are gone.

WP represent only your ability to take physical damage. They do not scale with level, and you likely have very few. Crits go directly here, making them very dangerous.

Grim-n-Gritty does this better.

Thanks for the reply. That way of dealing with damage sounds interesting.