I'm currently trying to devise a damage system for brp which is less deadly to the PCs, but simple to use.
Here's an example I came across somewhere. This was based on comparing the amount of damage done by any single hit to the character's total undamaged hit-ponts; the proportion dictated the degree of damage (e.g. less than 25% = light wound, 25 to 75% = injured, 75 to 100% = critical, 100+ = dying; each damage level has its own consequences).
The nice thing about this system is that it only becomes deadly when a PC takes a big hit in any one go, and this tends to be quite rare in my game, whereas with ablative damage, a modest hit can be fatal to a an already moderately injured PC. (But, the downside of this rules variation is that when used for monsters with a fair number of hit ponts, they become very difficult to take out).
Basically, I don't like killing-off characters too readily. If you use home rules for damage, I'd be inerested to know how they work...?
Cheers,
Rob