DTV

[Albert Sales]

   I've noticed that HPVs can get quite high. I know how much the body can endure, but it does have limits. This range seems pretty big to me. For "softer" characters, this might seem more fair (by softer, I mean light a magician or scholar). However, when you look at the HPV of some pure warrior, it can be seem that incredible trauma ALREADY only slows them down. Having the Death Point be -HPV would have them be unstoppible. They may be slowed, and for a long time, but they WILL get back up. At 3-4 x DTV, they might get back up.
   Also, when talking about what the body CAN survive, we should also look at what happens when it DOES survive. Modern weapons are soft as compared to archaic one's. A small hole goes through vital organs, system shock leads to unconsciousness, maybe death. Compare this to being gashed with a sword or axe. bones break, tissue is torn, organs rupture. Death is usually the result of system failure vice shock. Now, let us glance at the long running effects. Siggurd Siggurdsen was described as an enormous man. Has had his left shoulder struck by a sword, the wielder was described as "mild of stature". This is the last of Siggurdsen's tales, but in his son's tales, they note that he can barely use the arm.
   This would be way too far. However, in considering what would remain of such trauma that the person is beyond TWICE dtv makes me question why we are trying to expand this. P&P is a lethal RPG. That makes it more fun. We do not need to add ways for players to hold onto characters. The threat of losing a character should make the player think twice before doing something foolish. One of the selling-points I've used with P&P is "A peasant with a bow or spear can take great sir-knight down. This is a thought based game." I understand that many new gamers like nerf. I don't think P&P should ever go nerf. It is excellent as a dangerous system with an incredibly fun char-gen process. Why change that?

Alex Koponen <akoponen at MOSQUITONET.COM> wrote:
Here I attempt to rephrase the rules regarding DTV.

Rule 1.3252 DAMAGE TOLERANCE
All Characters can withstand excessive amounts of damage. The Damage
Tolerance Value (DTV) of a Character equals:

((C/20*)+StB)x(-1) *Round Up.

While HPV remains greater than zero the Character is conscious and
active. When HPV is reduced to 0 or below the Character loses the ability
to do combat or movement actions and until below DTV is semi-conscious or
asleep, at most capable of a slow crawl (10 feet every two minutes) or of
attempting to bandage themselves at 1/4th speed (16 phases to do so).
A value of less than DTV, but greater than negative HPV indicates that
the Character is completely unable to take any action (is in a coma) and
until treated is dying, losing (bleeding) 1 Hit Point per phase. The
bleeding will continue until it stops by itself, is stopped by magic or
medical care or it kills the Character.
A Character below DTV rolls 1D100 each phase. If the roll is equal to or
less than their DTVx(-1) they have stopped the bleeding and no longer need
to make bleeding rolls. If the roll is greater than DTVx(-1) but equal to
or less than (Hit Points below 0)x(-1) the Character dies from shock and
trauma. If the roll is above that amount the Character bleeds a point of
damage and survives another phase (unless that point of damage brings them
to negative HPV at which time the Character is dead).

Magical healing or prompt medical care can stop the loss of Hit Points.
Any healing spell or 4 phases of bandaging can stop the bleeding. Once the
bleeding is stopped the bleeding rolls are also stopped. Trained Healers
are quicker at stopping the bleeding and subtract the StB granted for
healing from the phases of bandaging needed to stop the bleeding. Any
magical healing, if successful, will stop the bleeding.

Example: Jock (DTV-5 StB+2 and CB+3) has been struck down and is at -5.
Jock doesn't have to make a bleeding roll because it is still in DTV. A
Goblin hits him for another 9 points and Jock is below DTV and has to make
a death roll each phase. The first phase Jock is at -14. A roll of 1-5 will
stop the bleeding, a roll of 6-14 will kill him. A roll of 15-100 will lose
1 point due to bleeding. The next phase (presuming no care nor more
injuries) Jock is at -15. A roll of 1-5 will stop the bleeding, a roll of 6-
15 will kill him. A roll of 16-100 will lose 1 point due to bleeding. This
could continue until he reaches negative HPV when he would die.


Rule 1.331) HIT POINT VALUE
The number of hit points that a Character can take before he loses the
ability to do combat or movement actions is his Hit Point Value (HPV)....

Rule 3.3) COMBAT EXPERIENCE GAIN
Per hit point scored on an active opponent, excluding...

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