Played (Hero 6E): Kaiju Academy. The extradimensional goon is interrogated, and maybe now the squad knows what’s going on, a little, although people keep saying it’s dangerous for them to learn too much, like the previous cohorts did. The overarching plot does seem to be some kind of memetic subjugation by some kind of hive mind, so maybe that’s true, or maybe adults just kind of suck. Then, back at Skyhold, the squad happens to be near the entrance to the labyrinth when more horrifying bug monsters burst out and attack again. They are put down, but not before the surprisingly tough scorpion monster just about snips Mallipattra’s leg off! Fortunately med student May is right there and a fully-equipped trauma ward is just upstairs, so she doesn’t completely exsanguinate, but she is in no condition to go to the Mid-Winter Ball.

Read (comic collection): Sweet Paprika vol 2 (Mirka Andolfo): Oh no, fake dating turned into real feelings! Who could have guessed that Paprika’s heart is not actually cold and black? Also, whether or not opposites attract, some similarities are definitely incompatible. The End!

Written (game design): 133 again:

No, the different between grind down and KO would depend too much on the
target’s defenses. Better to allow grinding down to take them to zero
eventually, but KO is all or nothing. (For all I complain about to-hit
rolls, it seems weird to have an all-or-nothing maneuver, but now it’s a
choice to gamble, so that’s okay.)

Since attacks that aren’t Grind Down or KO do other things than take
away hit points, they don’t necessarily need OCV/DCV penalties, although
of course the better ones might end up with penalties. Although, since
we want to get away from everyone wielding their own chisel at the pile
of hit points and encourage teamwork, maybe hitting should be harder
without help. Or less effective? Depends on what teamwork maneuvers we
want to have.

The most Hero way to do conditions would be to grind away at the active
points/ranks of the targeted ability, which is a lot like hit points but
at least you’re having an effect along the way. However, there is
precedent for multiplying (double Stun when surprised) or dividing (half
Def against AP attacks), not just subtracting, so conditions could do
that, or teamwork. If distracting someone can let your teammate do
double Stun (so, double effect on Grind Down or KO?), there might need
to be some rebalancing.