Usage Dice for Hit Points: an Optional Rule for OSR and D&D Games

This is a supplement for any system that uses HP. It keeps the HP, and treats it purely as a measure of a PC’s remaining ability to avoid injury. The injury itself, however, is tracked with a die whose size increases as a character gets more injured. This die is called the “Hurt Die”. The Hurt Die is like a usage die, for your body, except it counts up, not down.

When a PC is hurt, the Hurt Die is rolled, and a table consulted. The effects of the table produce further fictional effects to getting hit, which keeps the narrative of combat interesting. HP is only spent to represent the PC's dwindling ability to dodge, affecting the roll on the table.