Zero Hit Points is Only the Beginning

This post is inspired by Trollsmyth's post here.

One of the problems with hit points, as far as my experience goes, is that in the classic conception of them, only two events normally occur when you run out of hit points. Either you are dead, gone, permanently OR you are knocked out of the fight and then easily resusitated afterward.

I dont think either really puts fear in the hearts of the players. And I do mean PLAYERS. Because as fearful as the character might get, the barometric effect of hit points (being an indicator of how close you are to bad things happening) may or may not be resonating with the player. You may be knocked down to 2 hit points and yet there is still no fear in the player's heart. Why not?

Because in my experience the greatest fear of the player is not death, it is being maimed. Maimed, nerfed, crippled, whatever you want to call it. The state in which they feel obligated to keep playing the game with that character, but also feel the character is worthless.

That is why in Errant, death doesnt come at zero hit points. Zero hit points is when the real pain and suffering begins. When you hit zero HP, you start to take damage directly to your attributes instead, rolled randomly on a chart with some attributes more likely to be damaged than others (ex. CON). And the only way to heal attribute damage is with powerful magic or real serious medical attention. So as your hit points start to dwindle, the FEAR begins to grow. Am I going to take a hit to the head and permanently lose INT? Become disfigured and lose CHA?

In Errant, you are less likely to die in an encounter. Even if it gets really bad, you will probably still survive. Humans can survive some pretty wicked shit in the real world. You will just be missing an eye, losing function in your arms, and limping on your busted knee.

Fear of serious maiming is largely lacking in the conventional design. Yes, it is possible you might end up on the dismemberment table, but is that a fear you really hold in your heart? I doubt it.

Trollsmyth is right. Having lots of hit points give you some time to retreat if you are in over your head. But in Errant, they also give you some time to be afraid of what you will end up losing if they run out.

Tick tock tick tock......

Hope you brought your healing potion with you.....