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General Tabletop Discussion
*Dungeons & Dragons
Removing Hit Points from the Game
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<blockquote data-quote="Mercule" data-source="post: 7580929" data-attributes="member: 5100"><p>Personally, I don't think you can remove HP from the game and have it still function -- at least not without reworking enough other mechanics such that it is no longer recognizable as D&D. I really think you have two options:</p><p></p><p>1) Put whatever fluff you need to around HP so that it no longer causes pain. My preference is that hit point is an abstraction that incorporates some elements of skill and luck that <u>could</u> be handled by some other mechanic (say, defensive bonus on AC), but aren't for... reasons. Narrate it, if you want. Or, just ignore it. Yes, it's awkward if you're looking at it directly, but I just mentally stick it in the back bedroom and don't open that door -- while I refer to it as my "craft room" during public conversations. To an extent, this is exactly what you're doing in any number of video games that only show you a health bar, but still have a number, if you look at your character details.</p><p></p><p>2) Switch to another system that is built to not use HP. Savage Worlds, Fate, or Fantasy Hero all come to mind well enough. IIRC, Genesys uses a wounds system, and it's roughly the same level of complexity as 5E.</p><p></p><p>Whether you choose option #1 or #2 depends on your priorities. You decide what they are and live with them. Personally, I loathe the class/level mechanics and pseudo-Vancian spell slots (5E magic is tolerably improved), but I like having a Monster Manual and some other niceties, so I stick with D&D. YMMV.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Mercule, post: 7580929, member: 5100"] Personally, I don't think you can remove HP from the game and have it still function -- at least not without reworking enough other mechanics such that it is no longer recognizable as D&D. I really think you have two options: 1) Put whatever fluff you need to around HP so that it no longer causes pain. My preference is that hit point is an abstraction that incorporates some elements of skill and luck that [U]could[/U] be handled by some other mechanic (say, defensive bonus on AC), but aren't for... reasons. Narrate it, if you want. Or, just ignore it. Yes, it's awkward if you're looking at it directly, but I just mentally stick it in the back bedroom and don't open that door -- while I refer to it as my "craft room" during public conversations. To an extent, this is exactly what you're doing in any number of video games that only show you a health bar, but still have a number, if you look at your character details. 2) Switch to another system that is built to not use HP. Savage Worlds, Fate, or Fantasy Hero all come to mind well enough. IIRC, Genesys uses a wounds system, and it's roughly the same level of complexity as 5E. Whether you choose option #1 or #2 depends on your priorities. You decide what they are and live with them. Personally, I loathe the class/level mechanics and pseudo-Vancian spell slots (5E magic is tolerably improved), but I like having a Monster Manual and some other niceties, so I stick with D&D. YMMV. [/QUOTE]
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Removing Hit Points from the Game
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