"THIS does only 1d4 damage?!"

[Yuan-Ti]

Well, the best answer is... "it makes no sense what-so-ever. But D&D is a fun game to play. At some point, maybe we will try a game that makes an effort to accurately simulate combat and damage. But if we do that remember that the character you have spent 8 months portraying is just as likely to be killed by a rock thrown by a mob as by dragon breath."

How's that for an answer, you sensitive bunch if kuhniggets!

(It's funny, I did think that Oli's 2nd post was a bit rude, but only after I thought Wolfspider answered defensively.)

Now, if you'll excuse me, I am going to go back to reading Arrowflight which does not have nearly the problem D&D has with explaining weapon damage, even if it isn't quite as "gamey realistic" as The Riddle of Steel.

 

[hong]

... UNLESS it's a 1d4 dagger cut that may or may not kill you, depending on your character level. Explain that, Mr. Smarty Britches.

Certainly.

You will note that a dagger has only an eentsy little blade. The thing is that as characters advance in levels (sometimes termed "developing", or "maturing"; this is a process a bit like fruit ripening) they develop a protective force field around them. This force field is sometimes called the "dude factor". The dude factor is very thin for 1st level characters, in particular 1st level commoners, who are not dudes at all. 1st level PCs are by definition dudes, so they have more of a dude factor. As your level increases, so does your dudeness, and hence the thickness and strength of your protective dude field. A dagger, having only an eentsy blade, can only penetrate a certain thickness of dude field. A longsword has a bigger blade, and so can penetrate many more inches of dudeness (only dudes can wield a longsword, which is why it's a martial weapon, whereas any schmuck can wield a dagger, which is a simple weapon). Finally, a greatsword is the ultimate dude weapon, and has unsurpassed ability to penetrate dude fields. Even the most mojo dudes find it hard to control a greatsword, which is why it needs two hands to use.

Hope this helps!

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Hong,

OK, that makes sense (in a grim & gritty realistic type way). But what about female characters? Do they get dudeness or is there a "chick" factor?

 

[hong]

Hong,

OK, that makes sense (in a grim & gritty realistic type way). But what about female characters? Do they get dudeness or is there a "chick" factor?

Don't they bother to teach the classics anymore? Chicks benefit from the bulletproof nudity rule, which states that the accuracy of your enemies is in inverse proportion to the amount of clothing you wear. Please read up on your "history of roleplaying" notes before posting nonsense to web boards. I always do.

 

[Olidammara]

The thing is that as characters advance in levels (sometimes termed "developing", or "maturing"; this is a process a bit like fruit ripening) they develop a protective force field around them. This force field is sometimes called the "dude factor" ...

Hmmm.
Yes.
Yes, I think that explains it very well! Thank you!

 

[Greatwyrm]

D&D is a game of heroic fantasy. If your run-of-the-mill dagger was as much of a threat to the 15th level battle-hardened fighter as it was to the 1st level sheep rancher, the game would probably lose some of that heroic feel.

Just my 2cp.

 

[Henry]

So you can't explain it either, huh? Just say so next time, or don't try to contribute anything at all.

Anyone else have something USEFUL to post?

On hearing of the Tao,
the wise student's practice is with diligence;
the average student attends to his practice
when his memory reminds him so to do;
and the foolish student laughs.
But we do well to remember
that with no sudden laughter,
there would be no natural way.

-Tao te Ching

 

[Dieter]

Hit points do not directly represent life force or whatever you wish to call it. Hit points are a combination of luck, ability to avoid having major organs damaged, life force and other things.

Fighting types are the best at avoiding major damage from attacks.

Thats my take on it at least.

I'm in the same camp as PD. A higher level character (fighters in particular) are used to taking grievous wounds and able to shrug off the more meager attacks (such as dagger strikes) without much ado. I also follow the general rule that a higher level character would be adapt in directing otherwise lethal attacks to non-lethal areas (hands, arms, legs, shield, etc.).

It takes numerous strikes before the battle-hardened fighter starts succumbing to the effects of blood loss and fatigue.

 

[adndgamer]

I think that the HP thing is a measurement of ability to dodge, the measurement of armour's strength, a measurement of luck, and to a VERY SMALL DEGREE, a mesaurement of how much actual damage you can take.

I don't care -- being run through with the 9" blade of a dagger would suck, and would hurt A lot. It could kill you (internal bleeding and blood loss) even if it didn't hit any major organs. And being stabbed multiple times beforehand wouldn't help, but would merely make up scar tissue. It wouldn't make you better at being stabbed. It would make certain parts of your body tougher, but might also make them longer to heal.

 

[Olidammara]

Thanks for the responses thus far.

I've seen some really indepth analyzing on this board in the past. And even though I may privately pooh-pooh the Ultimate Gamer Geekiness of it all, I actually do appreciate a thorough dissection of the game theory. I was hoping for even more here to share to my lovely spouse.

((not-so-subtle bump))