D&D 4E What are HPs in 4E?

[Surgoshan]

You're covered in tiny nuns. Every time you would be hit by a spell or weapon, these tiny nuns selflessly throw themselves between you and the effect. You have as many nuns as you have HPs. You also carry extra nuns in a magic bag, and use of a healing surge entails nothing more complicated than pouring some nuns onto you. If you run out of nuns and go into anti-nun territory, that's a sign of the universe disfavoring you and pouring tiny satanic nuns onto you through an invisible fissure in reality. It takes an act of divine favor to throw off these anti-nuns and return to positive nun status.

These aren't very good nuns, because they breed like bunnies and an overnight rest will restore you to full nun status.

 

[Philotomy Jurament]

You're covered in tiny nuns. Every time you would be hit by a spell or weapon, these tiny nuns selflessly throw themselves between you and the effect...These aren't very good nuns, because they breed like bunnies and an overnight rest will restore you to full nun status.

Wow, 4E really *does* do it better!

 

[FitzTheRuke]

It is also of course the power to resist physical damage from falling 40 ft.
And to be burned.

Your list is part of the HP equation. the other is actual physical damage.

I never said it wasn't actual physical damage. That's what the being able to handle the shock of is.... physical damage. I'm sorry if I didn't make that clear.

For the record: The ability to withstand the shock of ACTUAL PHYSICAL DAMAGE so as not to outright die or pass out.

There, better?

Fitz

 

[Rex Blunder]

In 4e, hit points are a gamist concept. It's like the designers are making D&D into a glorified minis game. Sure it leads to ease of play, but it totally breaks any attempt at suspension of disbelief.

So, no change from earlier editions.

 

[Charwoman Gene]

I never said it wasn't actual physical damage. That's what the being able to handle the shock of is.... physical damage. I'm sorry if I didn't make that clear.

For the record: The ability to withstand the shock of ACTUAL PHYSICAL DAMAGE so as not to outright die or pass out.

There, better?

Fitz

Much better. Sorry if I jumped the gun.

 

[DandD]

In 4e, hit points are a gamist concept. It's like the designers are making D&D into a glorified minis game. Sure it leads to ease of play, but it totally breaks any attempt at suspension of disbelief.

You always needed a healthy dose of "suspension of disbelief" ©

So, no change from earlier editions.

Yep, like it was in every other edition of D&D. I agree here.

 

[That One Guy]

To the OP... I don't think there is a specific real-life translation of what hp is meant to be exactly.

My 3e interpretation... 8-12 damage will cause a commoner to begin to bleed to death. I then thought of characters as being able to take hp/10 'serious' wounds before they die. So, truly epic guys and gals could take an excessive amount of physical damage before going down. It allowed for sweet battle scars and stories, but it was not very realistic. The last game I was working on making (before hearing about 4e and dropping the idea) was going to go with that system of damage, but have PCs max out at about 30 or so hp. Lots of house rules and variants that were so similar to 4e that when I actually looked into it I just gave up on trying to get 3e to work how I wanted.

Since I may still have your attention... I like the idea that hp is a combination of physical health, mental health, adrenaline, and morale. In my mind 2nd wind helps with the last 3, but unless a spell or something is attached... it only ups one's will to fight, not their actual physical health. I like battle-scarred PCs.

 

[Korgoth]

Hmm.

Part of the reason I'm interested is that I have been thinking about relative power levels and the meaning of character levels. In OD&D, 4th level is about when you become Boromir / Chuck Norris / Gunnar Hamundarson. 8th is about when you become Conan / Beowulf.

I am curious about how that is going to work in 4E. If hit points are pure physical "damage soak" then you're Beowulf at 1st level. If they are also "plot immunity" points (aka "Chuck Points") then you're only Chuck or Boromir at 1st level.

My guess would be that 4E construes HP as Chuck Points because your "second wind" and all of that suggests that what is called "healing" is really regaining your moxie. You survive great falls because you run into a bunch of awnings / flag poles / bald eagles on the way down.

Of course, don't misinterpret my flippancy as hostility! D&D HP have really always been this way to one extent or another... though I must say that I like HP totals to be far, far smaller than they are in 4E and all the other numbers proportionately less.

The scale issue probably merits a separate thread, but like I said it is one of the reasons why I'm interested. Of course, to do E6 in 4E sounds like you have to make it E3, but for this thread I'm just trying to get clear on the actual design and underlying rationale.

 

[Charwoman Gene]

4e starts at Boromir/Chuck Level. level 1 is designed to feel like 3e 4th Level.

I'd Guess Conan/Beowulf is 10-11.

 

[malraux]

4e hit points go up much much slower than in 3.5. 4e hitpoints are only higher at the very early levels.