The then first, Black node counted remaining life as maximum life minus damage taken, plus any life gained while at maximum life. The first part was only misleading; neither damage nor the distinction between damage and loss of life were mentioned. But the second part was unequivocally a bug; there is quite obviously a ceiling to life gain: maximum life. Players needed to avoid using life gain until sufficient damage is taken, avoid or at least account for life loss and counteract that life loss with sufficient life gain to stay alive.