Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="pemerton" data-source="post: 6296949" data-attributes="member: 42582">You may have missed the bit where, between the orcs attacking and Boromir dying, he fought on although feathered by orc arrows.I have no idea whether or not Pathfinder aspires to the emulation of such fictional events, and the creation of corresponding dramatic pacing and emotional engagement by the players. 4e does. It uses a variety of mechanics to do so. One is in-combat hit point restoration, thereby creating more tension and drama than simple attrition.This is what Boundless Endurance, together with similar powers, is for.Suppose the 2nd level fighter with Boundless Endurane has CON 16, then s/he has regeneration 5 when bloodied. S/he also has 37 total hit points, so when bloodied has 18 or fewer remaining. The character is (let's say) wearing scale armour (+7) with a light shield (+1) for a total AC of 19 (including +1 level bonus). Suppose s/he is fighting goblin sharpshooters, which attack with +9 to hit for 1d6+4, or 2d6+4 with combat advantage. They hit a little more than half the time, so expected damage per attack is around 4 hp, or around 6 hp with combat advantage. If only one is shooting, the character's boundless endurance will probably keep him/her alive. If two are shooting, it will be a close thing - it will depend upon the character killing one in two or three rounds before dropping to 0 hp. If three are shooting, the character will survive for perhaps two rounds before dropping to the many arrows.The use of regeneration rather than a simple hit point pool introduces timing complexities - for instance, if the player of the fighter can delay the shots in some fashion, or even slow the rate of damage infliction (say by taking cover), then the number of rounds s/he can survive increases. In the fiction, this is the renewal of verve and endurance that takes place as the character takes cover and regains some sense of the momentum of battle running his/her way than against him/her.(If I was fully modelling Boromir in 4e I would make him higher than 2nd level. I would also have his horn be a minor action that, when blown, (i) alerts allies even if they are out of sight or line of effect, and (ii) allows him to spend a healing surge to gain the equivalent value of temporary hit points - the reason for doing it this way, rather than as a healing effect, is it allows him to blow the horn to advantage even at the start of a combat.)You may or may not care for it. Pathfinder may or may not have the capaibility to deliver this sort of play experience. But to suggest that I, or anyone else, is denying that "regeneration" in 4e means regeneration is just ridiculous.</blockquote>

Verification