Hit Points (HP)
Also known as: HP, health, life points, wounds
Definition
A numeric measure of how much damage a character can take before being incapacitated or killed. Damage reduces HP; healing restores it.
How it works in different systems
D&D 5e: HP scales with level. At 0 HP, you're unconscious and make death saves.
Vampire V5: Health track with Superficial and Aggravated damage. Vampires can heal most damage.
Call of Cthulhu 7e: HP = (CON + SIZ) / 10. Getting to 0 = dying. Much more lethal than D&D.
Savage Worlds: Wounds instead of HP. 3 wounds = incapacitated. More binary than granular HP.
Example
“Your fighter has 45 HP. The dragon's claw deals 18 damage, dropping you to 27 HP. You're hurt but still fighting!”
Common Mistakes
- Treating HP as purely physical (HP also represents luck, stamina, and will to fight)
- Not tracking temporary HP separately
- Forgetting that 0 HP doesn't always mean death (death saves in 5e, etc.)