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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Majoru Oakheart" data-source="post: 5863847" data-attributes="member: 5143">The thing is, it actually might work better if HP were not visible.  Imagine a spell that paralyzes an enemy if they are under 30 hp.  If the target is not under 30 hp, the target takes 3d6 damage instead.It means you have to guess when the enemy is nearing the point you can affect it and use it then.  If not, the enemy takes some damage.  It makes spells a little more unpredictable.Though in practice, I can see some players memorizing the hps of common creatures and possibly even writing down the damage each monster takes so they KNOW when to use their SoD or SoSuck spells.The only real problem with this is that the idea of the hit point threshold system appears to be simulationist.  A medusa will turn anyone with 40 hitpoints or less to stone just by looking at them.  So all the 1st-3rd level city guards immediately turn to stone while the PCs don't have to worry about it until they've taken some damage.If you use percentages, then all of those 1st level guards are immune to the petrification while they are at full hitpoints.  Plus, it has the opposite affect against really powerful creatures.  If a monster has 2500 hitpoints and you can use a Save or Suck spell against them at half hitpoints, it means you've got one spell that can effectively do 1250 points of damage.  This creates the same probably Harm had for so many years.</blockquote>