What is XP/HP/AP?

XP, HP, and AP are foundational resources in game design — numeric systems that define how a player progresses, survives, and acts.

They’re not just stats — they drive all the logic of risk, growth and choice in the game.

1️⃣ XP — Experience Points

Definition: A progression resource, earned by completing objectives, defeating enemies, or making impactful choices.

Function	Why It Matters
Tracks long-term growth	Levels, skill unlocks, narrative evolution
Rewards engagement	Combat, exploration, quests, dialogue
Creates feedback loop	Visible reward → motivation → mastery

📍Example: In Skyrim, XP is earned by using skills. The more you sneak, the better you sneak — and you choose where to grow (HP, stamina, magicka + perks).

2️⃣ HP — Hit Points (Health)

Definition: A survival resource, representing how much damage a character can take before death or defeat.

Function	Why It Matters
Core risk system	Losing HP = threat of failure
Drives player caution	Forces healing, defense, positioning
Enables feedback loops	HP bars = readable tension

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📍Example: In Dark Souls, HP is scarce and precious. It shapes how aggressive you can be — and how much danger you can risk between bonfires.

3️⃣ AP — Action Points

Definition: A tactical resource that governs how many things a player can do per turn or time unit.

Function	Why It Matters
Enforces choice	You can’t do everything — prioritize
Builds planning tension	Movement vs attack? Skill vs item?
Enhances mastery	Good players use AP better, not just more

📍Example: In XCOM, each soldier has 2 AP. One to move, one to act — or both to move farther. Every turn is a puzzle of how to spend them.

4️⃣ System Synergy

Resource	Drives	Interacts With
XP	Growth	Boosts HP/AP, unlocks options
HP	Survival	Tied to healing, tanking, risk
AP	Tactical depth	Constrained by skills, terrain, debuffs

📍These systems work best when they depend on each other. High AP means nothing if you die in two hits (low HP). HP means nothing if you can’t act (low AP). XP means nothing if nothing changes when you level up.

✅ XP/HP/AP Design Checklist

Are XP, HP, and AP tuned to support the game’s pace (slow survival vs fast action)?

Does each resource offer tension and decision-making?

Do they evolve or combine over time (e.g. XP → skill trees, HP/AP upgrades)?

Are they readable and felt emotionally (visible, urgent, rewarding)?

Are failure states (HP = 0, AP = 0) interesting, not just punishing?

📍XP/HP/AP are not UI stats. They’re player-facing consequences — and should always create meaningful pressure.

Summary

Term	Function	Drives
XP	Progression	Growth, reward loops
HP	Survival	Risk, tension, pacing
AP	Action Economy	Planning, trade-offs, tactics

📍XP, HP, and AP are the bones of systemic play. They’re not just numbers — they’re how a game speaks to the player: “You’re growing.” — “You’re in danger.” — “You have a choice.”