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<blockquote data-quote="Reaper Steve" data-source="post: 3823233" data-attributes="member: 51528">You know, I can accept that argument... I was just hoping I didn't have to. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink&nbsp; &nbsp; ;)"&nbsp; data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" /> From a metagame perspective, maybe this is the way to go.1) It really can't get much simpler. While I previously posted that having two target numbers (Reflex and AC) could be confusing, I must admit that it's most likely a 'learn it once and never forget' type of distinction.2) Since hit points actually represent the ability to stay in a fight, they actually provide (and always have) a very elegant mechanic that I haven't seen duplicated in other systems. I don't know of another system that actually measures how long someone can stay in the fight. In other words, if 'AC' was designed to reflect skill in preventing any hit, and 'HPs&quot; tracked actual wounds...then theoretically a guy could fight nonstop until someone seriously wounded him. But since hit points track how much effort you had to use to avoid being hurt, they actually place a restriction on how long a guy can fight, which scales with level. For instance, a guy with 30 HP has enough skill to avoid two 10-HP strikes and the thrid will take him down. A guy with 80 HP can avoid seven. This interpretation is not possible if AC is replaced by 'Combat Defense' and HPs are replaced by wounds. In this case, a guy could fight non-stop until wounded.So, HP neatly accounts for skill, fatigue, and damage. But to use it this way, it appears that armor must be used to increase AC instaed of provide DR.What I would really like to see is a 4E design essay that discusses this in more depth. I'm sure they had some awesome discussions--I'd like to be privy to the rationales.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Reaper Steve, post: 3823233, member: 51528"] You know, I can accept that argument... I was just hoping I didn't have to. ;) From a metagame perspective, maybe this is the way to go. 1) It really can't get much simpler. While I previously posted that having two target numbers (Reflex and AC) could be confusing, I must admit that it's most likely a 'learn it once and never forget' type of distinction. 2) Since hit points actually represent the ability to stay in a fight, they actually provide (and always have) a very elegant mechanic that I haven't seen duplicated in other systems. I don't know of another system that actually measures how long someone can stay in the fight. In other words, if 'AC' was designed to reflect skill in preventing any hit, and 'HPs" tracked actual wounds...then theoretically a guy could fight nonstop until someone seriously wounded him. But since hit points track how much effort you had to use to avoid being hurt, they actually place a restriction on how long a guy can fight, which scales with level. For instance, a guy with 30 HP has enough skill to avoid two 10-HP strikes and the thrid will take him down. A guy with 80 HP can avoid seven. This interpretation is not possible if AC is replaced by 'Combat Defense' and HPs are replaced by wounds. In this case, a guy could fight non-stop until wounded. So, HP neatly accounts for skill, fatigue, and damage. But to use it this way, it appears that armor must be used to increase AC instaed of provide DR. What I would really like to see is a 4E design essay that discusses this in more depth. I'm sure they had some awesome discussions--I'd like to be privy to the rationales. [/QUOTE]

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