Well AckAck it is several months now since I heard HT talking about this at the con.
With that caveat
As I remember a lot of it was stuff like.
AH current has 2 states, intact, and failed, nothing inbetween. With the new damage model they'd be able to have several states. Intact, 25% damaged, 50% damaged, 75% damaged, and failed. Now apply that to something like a wingtip that has been shot at.
So you could have reduced airflow because of the holes. You could have structural members that are still there, but ready to snap at any increased pressure. So the next time you force it into a 5g turn it goes snap.
I think they were also increasing the # of damage points in a plane. And thats just one possible example.
You won't necessarily "know" how much more your plane can take if you've been shot up.
Where now you pretty much do. As long as you have control surfaces, engine thrust, and lift, you can continue to fly and fight.
Same plane in same situation under the new model had best be trying to get out, and get home.
As something may fail at any point that will screw the pooch.
But we'll have a better idea once he gets the bugs out and we can play with the WWI birds.