Given how easy crits are, I'm spitballing a change to the Dying rules.
In this change, people still drop at 0 HP, but the default status at 0 HP is 'staggered' instead of dying. Staggered is a new condition where you're vaguely conscious but not able to fight. The consequence of this change is more Hollywood-esque style knockouts of heroes. Crits that drop you to 0 can cause you to bleed out, and since crits are fairly common in PF2, the system is still dangerous. But I think this has a bit more nuance and works better to capture the tropes of fantasy storytelling.
...
You can reach three possible conditions when you are reduced to 0 HP - Staggered, Unconscious, and Dying. As you're Dying, you suffer progressively more serious Drained conditions, which reduce your maximum hit points. Once your max HP is reduced to 0, you die.
A creature that's reduced to 0 HP is Staggered if it has any Hero Points, or is Dying if it has no Hero Points.
(PCs start each session with a Hero Point. The GM might grant them to prominent NPCs as well.)
Regardless of Hero Points, if the attack that dropped you to 0 was a critical hit, you are Dying. If the attack that drops you to 0 HP is nonlethal, you're Staggered, or are Unconscious if the attack was a critical hit.
A Staggered creature that takes nonlethal damage equal to or greater than its level becomes Unconscious.
A Staggered or Unconscious creature that takes lethal damage equal to or greater than its level becomes Dying. A Dying creature that takes lethal damage equal to or greater than its level worsens its Drained condition by 1 step. (See below.)
An Unconscious or Dying creature that gains any HP regains consciousness and becomes Staggered.
Staggered
When you are staggered you fall prone, drop what you're holding, and are stunned. You're still aware of what's going on, but can't act except to speak haltingly.
* While Staggered, you make a Fort save at the start of your turn (DC 20). If you critically succeed you go to 1 HP and lose the Staggered condition, but are Slowed 1 for one round. (You have one fewer action.) If you succeed, everything stays the same. If you fail, you fall Unconscious.
* If you are already at 1 HP or higher but are still staggered, on a success you lose the Staggered condition but are Slowed 1 for one round. There’s no consequence for failing.
Unconscious
You are helpless, prone, and can take no actions. You do not need to make saves each round. An ally can spend an action and make a Medicine check (DC 15) to end the Unconscious condition and instead make you Staggered.
If not accosted, make a Fort save (DC 20) at the start of each day. If you succeed, you heal as if you had rested a day, which ends the Unconscious condition. If you fail you remain unconscious and do not heal. Eventually you might die from starvation or exposure to the elements.
Dying
When you gain the Dying condition, you also gain Drained 1. (This is an existing condition used by stirges, wraiths, and other foes. Your max HP is reduced by your level x your Drained value. Multiple Drained conditions stack. If your max HP is reduced to 0, you die. Normally you recover Drained at a rate of 1 per day of rest.)
While Dying, you make a Fort save at the start of your turn (DC 20). If you critically succeed you end the Dying condition and become Unconscious. A failure causes you to be Drained 1. A critical failure causes Drained 2.
You can spend a Hero Point at any time to end the Dying condition and become Unconscious.
While you have the Drained condition due to Dying, if you receive healing that restores HP equal to or greater than your level, reduce your Drained condition by 1, then heal those hit points. The restoration spell at 4th level can also restore the Drained condition.
