> playing D&D > player gets held at crossbowpoint by guards > "lol I have 75 hit points" > character falls off of a cliff > "lol I have 75 hit points" > character gets his head run over by a cart > "lol I have 75 hit points"
Please explain how this game is "good". No one and nothing can die dramatically; they can only die by having their hit points whittled down in combat using pre-approved maneuvers and methods. And whenever you try to go outside these rules, D&D players sperg the fuck out, because if they aren't killed by dragonbreath that deals 10d10 damage, then YOU are the shitty GM for daring to go outside the rules of the game.
James Ross
>run high level >bitches characters are superhuman
If that bothers you, run first to third level games.
Levi Price
Hit points are explicitly an abstraction representing your ability to avoid serious harm through luck, stamina or minor magic. This has been spelled out in every DMG I've ever read, and any GM or player who doesn't know it is an idiot.
HP damage is used when there's a chance you might survive. Being shot in the head at point blank range or falling an incredible distance are likely to be fatal.
Then again, these are heroic characters we're talking about. They might survive a fall of a cliff, or being run over by a cart. Getting shot in the head is kind of a sticking point, though.
Hudson Jenkins
Please just ignore this butthurt troll.
Please, please just ignore him, Veeky Forums. Do it for me.
Jaxson Young
One thing that you need to drill into a player's head, there are always people who came before you who are stronger than you.
One way I've implemented this in my games is that there are roving groups of the Holy High Church who go on pilgrimages to defend the many people of the land scouring it for ne'er do wells. The group(s) consisted of a few paladins, a cleric, an Inquisitor, and a witch of holy power (This took place in pathfinder). So if the party started to get into evil shit the church with the help from local governments would be after them.
You need to reinforce the thought to them that there is always someone stronger than them, this however does not mean to make a DMPC nor is it gunboat diplomacy. Sorry comrade, it is too late....
Jayden Barnes
> playing D&D > player gets held at crossbowpoint by guards > "lol I have 75 hit points" > lol I have Bolts of Slaying
Fixed.
Leo Clark
D&D is about fantasy superheroes. That's just its "thing". It isn't Mongoose's Legend, it isn't WFRP, and it most certainly isn't Runequest. If you were looking for ordinary heroes, then D&D is not the place to go, and that's not a strike against it. You don't use a pickaxe to brush teeth.
James Lopez
>look mom, i'm trolling again!
Low level D&D was already mentioned. So, stop with your "D&D can't do something everyone knows it can already do" bullshit.
Matthew Harris
You may want to consider looking into massive damage rules. There's a number of variations, but it's usually when they take either half their hp or 50+ damage (whichever you prefer) they make a fort save or just die. This usually helps with things like the falling off a cliff or getting run over example, while the guard one is usually rectified by similar coup de grace rules. Strictly speaking they took the coup de grace out of 5e, and for good reason, but feel free to add at least a low DC fort save to crits on a helpless target. Not sure why you can't spend a round slitting a guy's throat, but who am I to question the infinite wisdom of WotC?
Point is HP is designed to be a measure of the amazing things your fantasy heroes can do. If you feel a certain challenge or obstacle should not be able to be bested solely by their hardy obstinance instead tie it to a save vs debuff or, in more drastic cases even death. Fighting toe to toe with an ogre makes sense and is a good adventure, but when it comes to complete refusal to remove one's head from beneath a cart or a complete disregard for gravity perhaps some punishment needs to be divvied out. Remember that the rules are only a guideline after all, feel free to adjust the game slightly if the rules are making the world less realistic as opposed to more.
Jacob Campbell
Check out gurps op. Might be what you're looking for.
