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General Tabletop Discussion
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Why different HD types for classes? (Another HP thread...)
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<blockquote data-quote="The Crimson Binome" data-source="post: 7850079" data-attributes="member: 6775031"><p>The most consistent perspective is that damage numbers represent a consistent amount of force being applied, while HP totals reflect force-dissipation factors.</p><p></p><p>The damage of an arrow, whether that's 1 or 10, is intrinsic to that arrow. The damage value represents things like mass and speed. While the arrow is in flight, it carries the same amount of kinetic energy, regardless of what it later hits. It's the exact same arrow, regardless of whether it hits a wizard or a fighter, and regardless of whether or not the victim has been previously injured.</p><p></p><p>The maximum HP of a creature reflect how much force it can withstand while remaining active. If a standard arrow imparts 5 units of force, then a fighter with 100hp can withstand twenty such events before falling. A wizard with 6hp can only withstand one such impact. A fighter with 100hp, who only has 1hp left, cannot withstand any additional arrows.</p><p></p><p>There are definitely some abstractions involved here. The damage value of an arrow involves mass, speed, and shape; but we don't bother defining how much of each, because it's not important. Likewise, the ability to withstand injury without falling depends on experience (somehow) and toughness; but we don't bother defining how much of each, because it's not important. It's somewhat abstract, yes, but it isn't nearly as abstract as some people claim it to be.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="The Crimson Binome, post: 7850079, member: 6775031"] The most consistent perspective is that damage numbers represent a consistent amount of force being applied, while HP totals reflect force-dissipation factors. The damage of an arrow, whether that's 1 or 10, is intrinsic to that arrow. The damage value represents things like mass and speed. While the arrow is in flight, it carries the same amount of kinetic energy, regardless of what it later hits. It's the exact same arrow, regardless of whether it hits a wizard or a fighter, and regardless of whether or not the victim has been previously injured. The maximum HP of a creature reflect how much force it can withstand while remaining active. If a standard arrow imparts 5 units of force, then a fighter with 100hp can withstand twenty such events before falling. A wizard with 6hp can only withstand one such impact. A fighter with 100hp, who only has 1hp left, cannot withstand any additional arrows. There are definitely some abstractions involved here. The damage value of an arrow involves mass, speed, and shape; but we don't bother defining how much of each, because it's not important. Likewise, the ability to withstand injury without falling depends on experience (somehow) and toughness; but we don't bother defining how much of each, because it's not important. It's somewhat abstract, yes, but it isn't nearly as abstract as some people claim it to be. [/QUOTE]
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