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Message: <blockquote data-quote="FitzTheRuke" data-source="post: 4198264" data-attributes="member: 59816">I've just read Morrus'(?) 4E review, and I'm struck with a thought:Why rename Hit Points and Saving Throws?It's not really an issue of the fact that they are sacred cows, it's that the names still perfectly represent what they are.Hit Points are, and always have been, magical little points representing general attrician. They are called "Hit Points" because they are removed when an opponent scores a rules-approved "Hit" agianst your character.  It has NOTHING to do with wether the story involves the character being struck for physical damage, weakened with fatigue, or running out of luck.  A successful "Hit" (defined variously in different editions, but always based on a high-enough D20 roll to succeed against your defenses) against your character causes a loss in Hit Points - Hense, the name.Saving Throws have always been "Throw this die, it may save your character's life." This is why they are called "Saving Throws" The Saving Throws of 3.x (far superior to earlier editions) were so ingrained in the actions of the character, that they were clearly ways the characters were defending themselve, and so, the change to Defenses.  The method by which the character is saving themselves with a Saving Throw has in other editions been less clear, and 4E is a return to that. Story-wise what's happening is dependent on what effect you're saving against, what caused the effect, the cercumstances at the time, character shtick, and the whim of the player or DM.  IMO there SHOULD be a good story behind what the character is doing, and this Saving Throw mechanic leaves it open for me to consider all the factors above.So the names are fine, as they always have been. The only change is in how narrowly some have viewed the concepts. Expand your view and it's easy to see how they work in the new system.Fitz</blockquote>

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