Using Strength for Hit Points and Health for Fatigue

(C) copyright 1992, Andy Skinner
(I put this in, but is there a reason to?  I'd like to have my name on it.)

    It has long seemed to me that there should be some relationship between
a character's strength and his or her ability to take damage.  On the other
hand, there are characters in fiction that are not strong, but have some
kind of resiliency.  We already know that we can separate out two forms of
resistance to damage, as seen in split HT scores.  One is the amount of
damage one can take, the other is how one reacts to that damage.  I think
that a Dwarf should be able to take more damage than a Halfling, but the
Halfling should have a surprising ability to survive with a wound, illness,
or curse.  Seeing that the split HT scores are on a similar scale to ST for
many animals and monsters, I propose that ST be used for Hit Points, while HT
is used for fatigue and rolls for consiousness or death.  A weaker but
healthier person will last longer on a long march or run.  A strong person
will have some help with fatigue as well, since his or her encumbrance level
should be smaller for similar amounts of equipment.

    If you like, you could do away with the split HT scores.  Note that there
are some divergences, though.  The Hit Points listed in animal descriptions
were calculated to give realistic damage levels.  Elephants have a ST of
about 300 and 50 Hit Points.  For most, however, this method gives a good
approximation.