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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Philotomy Jurament" data-source="post: 4199084" data-attributes="member: 20854">I think the original concept was something like this:The <a href="http://www.philotomy.com/#hit_dice" target="_blank">average man can take 1 die of damage</a>.Any of the standard weapons are capable of killing the average man with a single "hit;" all standard weapons do 1 die of damage.A hero is the equal of four men, in battle; he gets 4HD.A superhero is the equal of eight men in battle; he gets 8HD.As you point out, it was hit dice, not chance to hit, that was the basic measure of improvement (suggesting that hit dice and maximum number of hit points that can be taken represent more than just physical toughness, IMO).  However, also consider that in OD&D, hit dice also dictate <a href="http://www.philotomy.com/#multiple_attacks" target="_blank">how many times a Fighting Man can attack</a> in non-fantastic combat (i.e. when he is in melee with enemies that are 1HD or less).  For example, a Hero (4th level) fighting six goblins will attack four times.  A Superhero would get to attack 8 times.  (This is OD&D's "mow down the mooks" rule; AD&D has a similar rule, but it only applies when fighting enemies of less than 1HD.)Personally, I don't think the original combat rules made perfect distinctions between all these concepts (i.e. ability to hit, number of attacks, hit points, damage rolls), as far as how they model the combat and the combatants' capabilities; I think there's some overlap and some duplication.  I have a general explanation of how hit points and damage work, but I don't sweat all the little details.</blockquote>

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