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<blockquote data-quote="Sword of Spirit" data-source="post: 6318764" data-attributes="member: 6677017"><p>(Post not directed at permerton; just a general response.)</p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px">Example Hit Point Breakdown:</span></p><p></p><p><u>1st-level Human Fighter; 12 hp</u></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">6 hp = physical trauma necessary to kill him </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">6 hp = stance and dodging to reduce incoming damage </li> </ul><p></p><p><u>10th-level Human Fighter; 84 hp</u></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">15 hp = physical trauma necessary to kill him (increased via physical conditioning) </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">69 hp = stance and dodging to reduce incoming damage </li> </ul><p></p><p><u>Typical Encountered Ogre; 29 hp</u></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">20 hp = physical trauma necessary to kill him </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">9 hp = stance and dodging to reduce incoming damage </li> </ul><p></p><p><u>Typical Encountered Harpy; 31 hp</u></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">11 hp = physical trauma necessary to kill her (includes superior biology granting greated tensile strength to muscles and ligaments) </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">20 hp = stance and dodging to reduce incoming damage </li> </ul><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px">Example Damage Taken From an Incoming Longsword Attack</span>:</p><p></p><p><u>Longsword Attack vs. 1st-level Human Fighter; 8 hp slashing damage</u></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">3 hp = physical trauma received </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">3 hp = trauma avoided via stance and dodging </li> </ul><p></p><p><u>Longsword Attack vs. 10th-level Human Fighter; 8 hp slashing damage</u></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">2 hp = physical trauma received </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">6 hp = trauma avoided via stance and dodging </li> </ul><p></p><p><u>Longsword Attack vs. Typical Encountered Ogre; 8 hp slashing damage</u></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">5 hp = physical trauma received </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">3 hp = trauma avoided via stance and dodging </li> </ul><p><u>Longsword Attack vs. Typical Encountered Harpy; 8 hp slashing damage</u></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">3 hp = physical trauma received </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">5 hp = trauma avoided via stance and dodging </li> </ul><p></p><p>One could also include separate factors for stamina or luck if so desired, without invalidating this sort of simulationist approach.</p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px">Interpretation of Official, Published Texts:</span></p><p></p><p><u>Simulationist Approach:</u></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Not all hp of damage taken represent physical (or in rare cases, psychic) trauma, but: </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A minimum component of any hit point loss is considered to actually be representative of the damage type (in the example, slashing damage) </li> </ul><p></p><p><u>Narrativist Approach:</u></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Damage can represent a variety of different sources, any of which may be absent in an individual damage-taking instance, so: </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Regardless of damage type, actual hit point loss need not be attributed to any particular damage type (in the example, the characters may have completely avoided taking any slashing injury) </li> </ul><p></p><p>It is <em>extremely</em> difficult to make a valid argument than any version of the rules dictated either of those approaches. </p><p></p><p><u>Everyone Agrees:</u></p><p></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Not all hit points lost to an attack necessarily represent physical trauma received </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The amount of damage that can possibly be attributed to physical trauma varies by creature type of level (ie, a 10th-level fighter doesn't have more "meat" than a couple heavy warhorses) </li> </ul><p></p><p><u>The Rules Can Be Interpreted to Support </u></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Hit points can be lost due to slashing damage, even though the attack completely fails to make contact or slash the target; or conversely that: </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Hit points lost due to slashing damage must include actual physical contact resulting in slashing damage </li> </ul><p></p><p>If you (directed at no one in particular) disagree, feel free to hunt for evidence that contradicts my assertion that the rules books can support either view. I could be wrong. My research consulted 1e, 2e, 3e, and 4e, but wasn't entirely intensive.</p><p></p><p>Unless someone can clearly and unequivocally provide evidence to the contrary, it is <em>purely a matter of choice, playstyle, and preference</em> as to how it is interpreted. Personal interpretations tend to fall along simulationist vs. narrativist "camps."</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Sword of Spirit, post: 6318764, member: 6677017"] (Post not directed at permerton; just a general response.) [SIZE=3]Example Hit Point Breakdown:[/SIZE] [U]1st-level Human Fighter; 12 hp[/U] [LIST] [*]6 hp = physical trauma necessary to kill him [*]6 hp = stance and dodging to reduce incoming damage [/LIST] [U]10th-level Human Fighter; 84 hp[/U] [LIST] [*]15 hp = physical trauma necessary to kill him (increased via physical conditioning) [*]69 hp = stance and dodging to reduce incoming damage [/LIST] [U]Typical Encountered Ogre; 29 hp[/U] [LIST] [*]20 hp = physical trauma necessary to kill him [*]9 hp = stance and dodging to reduce incoming damage [/LIST] [U]Typical Encountered Harpy; 31 hp[/U] [LIST] [*]11 hp = physical trauma necessary to kill her (includes superior biology granting greated tensile strength to muscles and ligaments) [*]20 hp = stance and dodging to reduce incoming damage [/LIST] [SIZE=3]Example Damage Taken From an Incoming Longsword Attack[/SIZE]: [U]Longsword Attack vs. 1st-level Human Fighter; 8 hp slashing damage[/U] [LIST] [*]3 hp = physical trauma received [*]3 hp = trauma avoided via stance and dodging [/LIST] [U]Longsword Attack vs. 10th-level Human Fighter; 8 hp slashing damage[/U] [LIST] [*]2 hp = physical trauma received [*]6 hp = trauma avoided via stance and dodging [/LIST] [U]Longsword Attack vs. Typical Encountered Ogre; 8 hp slashing damage[/U] [LIST] [*]5 hp = physical trauma received [*]3 hp = trauma avoided via stance and dodging [/LIST] [U]Longsword Attack vs. Typical Encountered Harpy; 8 hp slashing damage[/U] [LIST] [*]3 hp = physical trauma received [*]5 hp = trauma avoided via stance and dodging [/LIST] One could also include separate factors for stamina or luck if so desired, without invalidating this sort of simulationist approach. [SIZE=3]Interpretation of Official, Published Texts:[/SIZE] [U]Simulationist Approach:[/U] [LIST] [*]Not all hp of damage taken represent physical (or in rare cases, psychic) trauma, but: [*]A minimum component of any hit point loss is considered to actually be representative of the damage type (in the example, slashing damage) [/LIST] [U]Narrativist Approach:[/U] [LIST] [*]Damage can represent a variety of different sources, any of which may be absent in an individual damage-taking instance, so: [*]Regardless of damage type, actual hit point loss need not be attributed to any particular damage type (in the example, the characters may have completely avoided taking any slashing injury) [/LIST] It is [I]extremely[/I] difficult to make a valid argument than any version of the rules dictated either of those approaches. [U]Everyone Agrees:[/U] [LIST] [*]Not all hit points lost to an attack necessarily represent physical trauma received [*]The amount of damage that can possibly be attributed to physical trauma varies by creature type of level (ie, a 10th-level fighter doesn't have more "meat" than a couple heavy warhorses) [/LIST] [U]The Rules Can Be Interpreted to Support [/U] [LIST] [*]Hit points can be lost due to slashing damage, even though the attack completely fails to make contact or slash the target; or conversely that: [*]Hit points lost due to slashing damage must include actual physical contact resulting in slashing damage [/LIST] If you (directed at no one in particular) disagree, feel free to hunt for evidence that contradicts my assertion that the rules books can support either view. I could be wrong. My research consulted 1e, 2e, 3e, and 4e, but wasn't entirely intensive. Unless someone can clearly and unequivocally provide evidence to the contrary, it is [I]purely a matter of choice, playstyle, and preference[/I] as to how it is interpreted. Personal interpretations tend to fall along simulationist vs. narrativist "camps." [/QUOTE]
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