diff --git a/vacuum_gambit.p8 b/vacuum_gambit.p8
index 891cfb1..e5712bc 100644
--- a/vacuum_gambit.p8
+++ b/vacuum_gambit.p8
@@ -339,15 +339,15 @@ function drawhud()
  inset(120,66,125,125)
  -- 57 px vertically
  local mxs, cs, mxh, ch = primary_ship.maxshield, primary_ship.shield, primary_ship.maxhp, primary_ship.hp
- if (mxs > 0) and (mxh > 1) then
-  local split = 57 * (mxs / (mxs + mxh-1)) \ 1 + 66
+ if (mxs > 0) and (mxh > 0) then
+  local split = 57 * (mxs / (mxs + mxh)) \ 1 + 66
   line(121, split, 124, split, 0xba)
   vertmeter(121,67,124,split-1,cs, mxs,shlcols)
-  vertmeter(121,split+1,124,124,ch-1, mxh-1, hpcols)
+  vertmeter(121,split+1,124,124,ch, mxh, hpcols)
  elseif mxs > 0 then
   vertmeter(121,67,124,124,cs,mxs,shlcols)
- elseif mxh > 1 then
-  vertmeter(121,67,124,124,ch-1,mxh-1,hpcols)
+ elseif mxh > 0 then
+  vertmeter(121,67,124,124,ch,mxh,hpcols)
  else
   print("!", 122, 94, 9)
   print("!", 121, 93, 8)
@@ -441,7 +441,7 @@ mknew(ship_m)
 
 function ship_m:die()
  self.dead = true
- if (self.hp <= 0) boom(self.x+self.size*4, self.y+self.size*4,12*self.size, self.boss)
+ if (self.hp < 0) boom(self.x+self.size*4, self.y+self.size*4,12*self.size, self.boss)
 end
 
 function ship_m:calc_velocity(v0, t)
@@ -551,7 +551,7 @@ function ship_m:hitsomething(dmg)
  dmg -= self.shield
  self.shield = 0
  self.hp -= dmg
- if self.hp <= 0 then
+ if self.hp < 0 then
   self:die()
   return true
  end
@@ -916,11 +916,10 @@ player = ship_m.new{
 mknew(player,
  function(p)
   p.main_gun = zap_gun.new()
-  -- ONE HIT MODE: max hp is
-  -- minimum nonzero value.
+  -- ONE HIT MODE
   --
-  -- p.hp = 0x0.0001
-  -- p.maxhp = 0x0.0001
+  -- p.hp = 0
+  -- p.maxhp = 0
   -- p.shield = 0
   -- p.maxshield = 0
  end
@@ -940,7 +939,7 @@ frownie = ship_m.new{
  sparkodds = 8,
  
  -- health and power
- hp = 1, -- enemy ships need no max hp
+ hp = 0.5, -- enemy ships need no max hp
 
  -- position
  x=60, -- x and y are for upper left corner
@@ -962,7 +961,7 @@ mknew(frownie)
 
 blocky = frownie.new{
  sprite = 10,
- hp = 2,
+ hp = 1.5,
  hurt = {
   x_off = 0,
   y_off = 0,
@@ -971,7 +970,7 @@ blocky = frownie.new{
  },
  
  ow = function(self)
-  if self.hp <= 1 then
+  if self.hp < 1 then
    self.sprite = 11
   else
    self.sprite = 10
@@ -990,7 +989,7 @@ spewy = frownie.new{
   width=8,
   height=5
  },
- hp=1,
+ hp=0.5,
  maxpower=70,
  generator=0.5,
  fire_off_x=4,
@@ -1015,7 +1014,7 @@ chasey = ship_m.new{
  },
  sparks = smokespark,
  sparkodds = 8,
- hp = 2,
+ hp = 1.5,
  shield = 1,
  maxshield = 1,
  shieldcost = 180,
@@ -1047,7 +1046,7 @@ xl_chasey=chasey.new{
   width = 12,
   height = 10
  },
- hp = 20,
+ hp = 19.5,
  shield = 5,
  boss = true,
  slip = false,