Yes, I think that is a nice way of formulating what I have been trying to say. "Destroyed" is the wrong term for the in fiction phenomenom the rule is supposed to represent.
They probably should have used the word "defeated".
Albeit, it is the right term for the game system to use (among equally undefined terms.)
Any one term runs into similar problems. Such as applying "dying" to that which was never alive to begin with.Well, apparently you do since you have decided that "destroyed" doesn't mean killed but some other form of death that is somehow undefined but still exactly the same as dying.
There are some neuances here unfortunately. Defeated is likely a better "in fiction" term, but it opens up a can of worms in terms of gameplay. Prisoners, interrogations, healing, fleeing creatures alerting others. All of these (unfortunate) game implications are sort of made away with thanks to the handwavy "destroyed".
Don't summoned creatures disappear at 0 hit points - but you can still incapacitate with like hold monster/person?
Yes, ref my previous comment. I think this is a situation with no really good answers. I think "destroyed" might have been chosen for gameplay reasons. That fits the overall feel I have of the 4ed ruleset that game trumphed fiction whenever there was any sign of dilemma.
And then we get into what it means to be "alive", say for constructs vs. the undead.
In 4e incapacitated comes under the unconscious condition. In 5e it's a separate condition; creatures that are unconscious are also incapacitated.
Defeated can include alive or dead in the end. Destroyed really can't.
