Hit Points and Armor in Viscentia
As a full-contact historical game system, Viscentia emphasizes authentic combat styles, with battle outcomes playing a crucial role in character development. Understanding how hit points, armor, and damage work is key to surviving and thriving in the world of Viscentia.
Table of Contents
1. Hit Points and Armor
Hit points in Viscentia are simple and grounded in realism. If you’re not wearing armor, a hit to the body will deal damage. The person defending from attacks must call their own hits—you can’t call hits on others. Players who abuse this system will be removed from the game. When in doubt, take the hit to keep the game flowing smoothly.
Hands and feet count when hit and are easy targets, so be sure to armor these areas for protection. Monsters and NPCs may or may not call their hits but will react with grunts or growls for immersion purposes. Some NPCs may have more hit points or armor than is visible due to their role. If your attacks don’t seem to be making an impact, it doesn’t mean they’re cheating—it reflects the difficulty of the encounter.
Armor plays a critical role in defending against hits, with different types offering various levels of protection. Here’s how armor points are awarded:
- Heavy Leather Armor: 1 point
- Flexible Metal Armor: 2 points
- Plate Armor: 3 points
Armor does not stack—the highest-value armor worn in each area determines your protection for that specific region of your body. Players are responsible for protecting themselves, and Hosts may not let you battle if you’re inadequately armored. Remember, while this is a game, there are risks when swinging any weapon, even foam or blunt objects.
2. Types of Hits
Limb Hits: A hit to the arm (between wrist and shoulder) or leg (between ankle and hip) renders the limb destroyed and unusable. Losing any three (3) limbs results in death. Do not hop on one leg if injured; instead, drag the damaged leg behind you.
Mortal Wounds: A hit to the torso (between the waistline and collarbones, including the back) without armor results in a mortal wound. When this happens, the character enters the Bleeding Out state.
3. Bleeding Out
When bleeding out, act as though you’re in severe pain. You may stagger, stand, or fight, but you must hold your chest (even if hit in the back). Bleeding out lasts for 5 minutes, and without healing, your character dies and must be resurrected or return to the spawn point. The arm holding the wound cannot hold a weapon or shield.
4. Battle Safety
Be aware of your surroundings during combat. Other players may shift positions around you, so watch your swings and follow-throughs to avoid hitting someone accidentally. If you struggle with control, aim for limbs or mid-chest to avoid unsafe areas like the shoulders.
5. Shield Bashing & Pushing
You are allowed to bash and push with the flat surface of your shield, but use caution. Never use the shield edge to strike, as it poses serious safety risks.
6. Using the Cleave Ability
When using the Cleave ability, roleplay the attack as a powerful, large swing. Ensure you maintain control and safe contact at all times, even while portraying the intensity of the attack.
7. Death in Viscentia
If your character dies, you become a spirit. Stay down until looted or until the battle moves fifty paces away. Always check your surroundings before falling to avoid hazards like rocks or poison ivy.
Death does not restore your armor or mana. Once looted or when the battle ends, rise as a spirit and seek out a healer or head to a graveyard/spawn point. If using a spawn point, remain there for at least 10 minutes before re-entering the game.
To show you’re a spirit, hold your weapon or fist over your head. Spirits cannot speak to the living unless the “Speak with Dead” ability is used. Some Hosts may offer Spirit Quests to dead characters, often managed by NPC healers.
8. Memory and Death
After dying, your character won’t remember the last 10 minutes of their life. This prevents metagaming and ensures fairness. You may ask others what happened after you respawn, but you should roleplay your character’s ignorance of their immediate death.
9. Death at the End of a Game
Characters must be alive at the end of the game to avoid permanent death. Without a real consequence for dying, players often stop taking the game seriously. If you cannot respawn or be resurrected before the end of the game, you may be forced to lose all XP or permanently kill the character, based on the Host’s decision. Permanent death marks your character as “Deceased” on the Viscentia website.
Summary and Call to Action
In Viscentia, combat mechanics revolve around realism and the integrity of roleplay. Knowing how hit points, limb injuries, and armor work will not only protect your character but also enrich the entire game’s immersion. Remember, your experience—and that of others—depends on your ability to maintain both the spirit of the game and the safety of its participants.
Prepare for your next adventure! Gear up, protect yourself with the right armor, and always keep the rules in mind as you dive into battle. Ready to take the field? Remember, every encounter in Viscentia shapes your journey.
