Never thought about it before, but the two systems I like most don’t do that.
In chronicles of darkness, you get penalties when any of your last 3 health boxes (out of 6-10) are marked. In fate, you start getting Consequences, and those both adversely affect you and provide bonuses for your opponents.
I think some people don’t like this because it can cause a death spiral, where whoever gets injured first is likely to get more injured from the penalties. But, that makes sense for a lot of genres.
I routinely found it extremely irritating in BG3 when I’d do a sneak attack critical, and then the enemy would have like 3 HP left, and then they’d turn around and attack just as hard as if i’d done nothing. Unsatisfying.
D&D (and most derivatives) also has the issue of the only hit point that matters is the last one
Never thought about it before, but the two systems I like most don’t do that.
In chronicles of darkness, you get penalties when any of your last 3 health boxes (out of 6-10) are marked. In fate, you start getting Consequences, and those both adversely affect you and provide bonuses for your opponents.
I think some people don’t like this because it can cause a death spiral, where whoever gets injured first is likely to get more injured from the penalties. But, that makes sense for a lot of genres.
I routinely found it extremely irritating in BG3 when I’d do a sneak attack critical, and then the enemy would have like 3 HP left, and then they’d turn around and attack just as hard as if i’d done nothing. Unsatisfying.