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<blockquote data-quote="RangerWickett" data-source="post: 6107478" data-attributes="member: 63">Why do you loathe thresholds?I swing a sword at you. If you have enough HP, that sword will never kill you.I dump you into a pit of acid. If you have enough HP, that acid won't be fatal.I grapple you and try to snap your neck. If you have enough HP, your neck is okay for another round at least.So why, if I try to take control of your mind, turn you into a frog, or simply stop your heart does HP not matter any more? I think we're all pretty clear that HP isn't just flesh that has to be hacked away before an enemy gets to your internal organs. It's your ability to turn something that should mess you up into something that messes you up less.If you're okay with a low level wizard casting hold person and paralyzing the high-level guy because he rolled low on his save (or even both saves, if you're getting advantage), then you should be okay with a goblin getting lucky when he throws a spear and kills your high-level PC in one hit. I know the go-to counter is &quot;it's magic; you can dodge a sword, but you can't dodge a spell,&quot; but since magic doesn't really exist, and the game designers get to decide how magic works, I'd much prefer they pick a variety of magic that can a) do awesome things like levitate, turn invisible, and open portals to other worlds without b) being unbalanced and challenge-short-circuiting in combat.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="RangerWickett, post: 6107478, member: 63"] Why do you loathe thresholds? I swing a sword at you. If you have enough HP, that sword will never kill you. I dump you into a pit of acid. If you have enough HP, that acid won't be fatal. I grapple you and try to snap your neck. If you have enough HP, your neck is okay for another round at least. So why, if I try to take control of your mind, turn you into a frog, or simply stop your heart does HP not matter any more? I think we're all pretty clear that HP isn't just flesh that has to be hacked away before an enemy gets to your internal organs. It's your ability to turn something that should mess you up into something that messes you up less. If you're okay with a low level wizard casting hold person and paralyzing the high-level guy because he rolled low on his save (or even both saves, if you're getting advantage), then you should be okay with a goblin getting lucky when he throws a spear and kills your high-level PC in one hit. I know the go-to counter is "it's magic; you can dodge a sword, but you can't dodge a spell," but since magic doesn't really exist, and the game designers get to decide how magic works, I'd much prefer they pick a variety of magic that can a) do awesome things like levitate, turn invisible, and open portals to other worlds without b) being unbalanced and challenge-short-circuiting in combat. [/QUOTE]

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