NIARA! Thank you. That is exactly what I'm trying to tell people. None of this makes any sense.
200% agree with all you said.
As for HP, it is, like in most real RPGs, a measure of stamina. It represents how you get hit, and maybe your armor took the brunt of the blow, so you only got a bruise. It is a measure of cuts and scrapes on the arms and legs, etc.
The last hit that reduces you to 0 HP is the only major wound during combat. Critical Hits, even, are really only glancing blows but to places like the head or groin or stomach, this weakening you faster.
