D&D 5E Player Hit Points

[Blue]

Ever since we had a rogue that had not only more HPs then the fighter focused on CON, but more HPs then possible given max rolls and their CON, we just use the average.

Same for Point Buy.

Prevents "misunderstandings".

 

[Shiroiken]

Because the "average" rounds up, it's always better to take the average. Technically I allow rolling, but all of my players can do math, so no one ever does. I've heard of a homebrew option where you roll twice, taking the better roll, and I'd probably allow that since it makes the average about the same as the official "average."

 

[DammitVictor]

Max at 1st. Starting at 2nd, reroll all your HD and either take the new total or the old total + 1.

 

[Lanefan]

Ever since we had a rogue that had not only more HPs then the fighter focused on CON, but more HPs then possible given max rolls and their CON, we just use the average.

Same for Point Buy.

Prevents "misunderstandings".

Such "misunderstandings" are far better prevented by having ALL rolls done on the table at the session, in full view of others.

 

[ezo]

Such "misunderstandings" are far better prevented by having ALL rolls done on the table at the session, in full view of others.

But math errors also happen...

 

[Kurotowa]

Random HP is random, and I dislike randomness in character creation. Results for in-game actions, sure, some randomness is great. Essential, even. But I want character creation to be fair, balanced, and under my control. It's the same reason why I was all for point buy ability scores over rolled scores as soon as it was offered.

Having random HP is another of those things that made sense back when D&D was a Rogue-like with permadeath, and fishing for the god character with high ability scores and good HP was part of the appeal, but doesn't fit with how I play the game these days.

 

[Distracted DM]

I like how WWN does it. Always roll all your HD at every level. If you roll lowers HP than your previous level, you get your previous level’s HP+1.

At first level, you can end up with only 1hp but over time, it averages out or, if you roll luckily on a given level, you can have lots of hp.

I wonder how it would work in 5e.

I've considered this too- I do wonder how out of whack it'd throw things? Considering how many levels in 5e.. would you have a very good chance of getting high-arse HP pools?
Don't know how the odds work out there.

 

[Lakesidefantasy]

I let the Player choose between rolling or taking the average. However, I also give them two extra hit points if they choose to roll.

 

[el-remmen]

everyone has to roll, but if your result is lower than the average rounded down (e.g., 3 for d6, 4 for d8...), then you get the average rounded down.

This exactly.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

Average always. We don't randomise whether you get the other class features as you level up either, why would we randomise the HP? It is part of the balancing that some classes get more HP, it seems very counterproductive to let randomness potentially upset that balance.

I also notice that a lot of people seem to be using houserules than increase the amount of HP the PCs have. If I'd alter anything, I'd revise the HP downwards, I think the PCs might already have too much HP.