Translate HP loss into game terms

[krotana]

Hello everybody...
I am just curious: How do you, in your game, translate injuries to your monsters into game terms for the players?
Do you describe "the three deep cuts to its torso, seeping blood, that only seem to make it more vicious and furious?"
Or do you plainly tell "you dealt the monster 48 hp damage and it has 100 hp left?"
Or something between those?

-K.

[kitep]

Usually we use relative terms like "barely hurt", "half dead", "one more hit should finish it", etc.  Sometimes we just say how many hit points are left.

I've found when I use fluff text like the "three deep cuts to its torso", then people start wanting to do called shots and receive various bonuses for damage inflicted with the called shot (eg, I aim for the eyes - now it's blind!)

[cvar]

I describe the monster's attack (A vicious overhead swing...) whether it hits (slams into your armor...) and then the damage (you take xx!).  I let the players describe their attacks to me, though some just tell me what they rolled.  If I get that I throw out some descriptions (Your arrows slam into a poorly armored part of <monster>, dealing him a staggering blow, he looks to be barely alive!)  I try to avoid "okay, he rolled a 17 to hit, which beats your AC, so you take 32 damage, who's next?", it's just not as exciting.  I also try to avoid the monsters having HP bars and discourage my players from saying things like "I've got 10 hp someone toss me a heal" unless we've moved out of combat, since then it's reasonable that whomever has the wand is doing a triage type setup and is gauging who is the most hurt.

I want my abstracted numbers to remain abstract dammit!

[veekie]

Usually I go with the green-yellow-red-black description OOC(I play in chat, so OOC has its own channel), while IC it generally reflects the severity of the injury. Unless its deceptively tough anyway.

[RobbyPants]

I describe the monster's attack (A vicious overhead swing...) whether it hits (slams into your armor...) and then the damage (you take xx!).  I let the players describe their attacks to me, though some just tell me what they rolled.  If I get that I throw out some descriptions (Your arrows slam into a poorly armored part of <monster>, dealing him a staggering blow, he looks to be barely alive!)  I try to avoid "okay, he rolled a 17 to hit, which beats your AC, so you take 32 damage, who's next?", it's just not as exciting.  I also try to avoid the monsters having HP bars and discourage my players from saying things like "I've got 10 hp someone toss me a heal" unless we've moved out of combat, since then it's reasonable that whomever has the wand is doing a triage type setup and is gauging who is the most hurt.

This is closest to what I do. I can tell I'm getting lazy if I start simply reporting damage values. This happens most often if the fight includes a lot of little minions.

I want my abstracted numbers to remain abstract dammit!

Yeah, you pretty much have to keep them that way. Otherwise, you have to start thinking about things like why you become more resistant to magical healing as you gain levels. 

[cvar]

I want my abstracted numbers to remain abstract dammit!

Yeah, you pretty much have to keep them that way. Otherwise, you have to start thinking about things like why you become more resistant to magical healing as you gain levels. 

I'd say antibiotics, but it happens even if you never swig a potion.

Chugging potions just isn't heroic enough at a higher level?  I suppose that only works if you accept Gygax's notion that HP isn't explicitly physical damage.

Innate magical resistance caused by constant exposure to magical effects/magic?  That's right, the wizard is the reason why potions just don't have the kick they used to.

[DonQuixote]

...for whatever reason, both in games I run and games I play in, wounds are described in terms of whether or not the opponent looks happy.

Example: "Boy, he does not look happy."

[sirpercival]

...for whatever reason, both in games I run and games I play in, wounds are described in terms of whether or not the opponent looks happy.

Example: "Boy, he does not look happy."

Lol.  Doesn't really work if they don't take much damage.  "Yeah, the slavering guard-beasts of Krohl look pretty happy as they attempt to separate your head from your neck."

[Halinn]

...for whatever reason, both in games I run and games I play in, wounds are described in terms of whether or not the opponent looks happy.

Example: "Boy, he does not look happy."

Lol.  Doesn't really work if they don't take much damage.  "Yeah, the slavering guard-beasts of Krohl look pretty happy as they attempt to separate your head from your neck."

Of course they look happy, not only are they relatively unhurt, they also get lunch

[DonQuixote]

...for whatever reason, both in games I run and games I play in, wounds are described in terms of whether or not the opponent looks happy.

Example: "Boy, he does not look happy."

Lol.  Doesn't really work if they don't take much damage.  "Yeah, the slavering guard-beasts of Krohl look pretty happy as they attempt to separate your head from your neck."

For whatever reason, we roll with it.  If the opponent hasn't been damaged that much? "He still looks decently happy."  If he heals himself?  "He looks pretty pleased."

I cannot tell you why this is the case.  It seems to have been the situation before I joined the group, and I've gotten used to it.