[Gulnyr]

In a way, the training and endurance concepts of hit points are much more important than the cuts concept. It's a fantasy world, but there's nothing magic about flesh, really. A good chop with an axe and you're done, right?

So, a hit doesn't necessarily mean that a wound was caused; it could be that it happened to hit the shield or deflect off the armor. The defender "spent" some hit points to reflect his training, moving with the blow to reduce its effectiveness, getting just a bit more tired with the maneuver. That's a hit mechanically, though, and hit points are lost.

Adding fancy materials just makes it easier to avoid taking damage. They combine with training to make the combatant "tougher." Blades slide off more easily and arrows have more trouble penetrating. Add magic and anything is possible.