Experimental Damage System

[Don Jones]

If you've looked over the playtest files, one of the things that probably lept out at you was the damage system. It is significantly different and, while there are similar concepts in other games, we really haven't seen this. So, let's get into it.

First, this is an experiment at this point. I'll explain the reasons we are trying it below, but we are not married to it. If it isn't working, or it just isn't fun, let us know. It won't be any problem going back to hit points.

So, why the change? First, we have always been bothered by the lack of effects in hit point systems. In most cases, a person with one hitpoint left can do everything a character at full hit points can. Some games and homebrews try to address this by throwing in effects at 75%, 50%, etc. However, it doesn't translate well. Secondly, hit points just don't work well for some types of damage. Rules for drowning, poison, disease, fire, starvation, etc., don't work very well, or get strangely convoluted. Hit points aren't usually defined just the ability to take damage. Usually, fighting skill and ability are assumed to be part of it. Otherwise, how does one character end up with 10 hit points and another with 80 hit points? Why is one guy killed by a single arrow, but another would have to be hit by 10 arrows, simply to feel threatened?

We wanted to try a system that is focused on the effects of damage, rather than the numbers. There are still numbers involved, of course, but those numbers are tied to specific effects. If you have 10 out of 100 hit points left, you fight on. If your health level is at 10 out of 100, you can try to fight on, but you are gasping and unable to breathe, with only a limited number of rounds before you go unconscious. We did a lot of research into triage medicine to try to build this, so the results should be interesting.

We also wanted a damage system that works well for any situation. Whether it is modern firearms, melee combat, poison, or any other type of damage, focusing on the effects should be playable and believable.

Finally, it should be more balanced. The experienced fighter will have defensive skills and abilities that enable her to avoid being hit, or her physical endurance may allow her to sustain more damage. At the end of the day, though, a sucking chest wound is a sucking chest wound, a spurting artery is a spurting artery. The experienced adventurer can have an advantage, but isn't immune to damage.

This is one area we truly need feedback on. This could be a great idea, or it could massively suck. Only playtesting will let us know.