Making combat less lethal.

[Axly Suregrip]

Another thought on lethality.

Self preservation should be a motivation of most creatures. When they take too much damage they should be looking to disengage and run. This may be true even if they are winning. That is, a dragon that slays your whole party but is down to 3 ST is likely to die in its next encounter. Creatures, unless starving or mindless, should definitely be looking to run if taking half ST in damage. Most creatures do not have the benefits of physickers and healing potions.

That said, slow creatures without the benefit of magic will have to die fighting or hope for a gracious foe or hope to leave some of their party behind as a sacrifice to escape.