How do temporary hit points work?

[scottchiefbaker]

If a cleric does Sacred flame and gives my guy 3 temporary hit points, and then the next round does the same thing do I have 6 temporary hit points?

The PHB says that temp hit point don't stack from different sources (choose the higher), but doesn't mention from the same source. I'm assuming they stack from the same source just want to verify.

 

[Infiniti2000]

They do not stack, period. You have only 3 temporary hit points even if you never get hit and the cleric keeps that up round after round.

 

[Neuroglyph]

If a cleric does Sacred flame and gives my guy 3 temporary hit points, and then the next round does the same thing do I have 6 temporary hit points?

The PHB says that temp hit point don't stack from different sources (choose the higher), but doesn't mention from the same source. I'm assuming they stack from the same source just want to verify.

Infiniti is correct - they don't stack, even from the same ability. You just have to think of each individual use of that ability as a "different source", as it would if they came from a different class.

So if you got 3 tmp hp from Sacred Flame, and you took 2 hp, your next Sacred Flame would overwrite the previous one and you'd be back up to 3 temp hp again, but not 4 temp hp.

 

[Odemia]

Invigoration

The above posts are correct. There is however an exception, powers with the "invigorating" keyword can stack temporary hp. As far as I know the "invigorating" keyword is only used with fighter powers in the martial handbook.

 

[Mahali]

The above posts are correct. There is however an exception, powers with the "invigorating" keyword can stack temporary hp. As far as I know the "invigorating" keyword is only used with fighter powers in the martial handbook.

Note quite true. Invigorating now adds to the TMP gained. Originally they stacked but was quickly erratad.

 

[DracoSuave]

Note quite true. Invigorating now adds to the TMP gained. Originally they stacked but was quickly erratad.

Specificly, THP gained from Battlerager Vigor are added to THP gained from the invigorating keyword for a given attack, and that's that.

Before, Battlerager Vigor permitted Invigorating THP to stack, but that's long since been changed to something less crazy. Without BRV, Invigorating never stacked with anything.

 

[ValhallaGH]

Temporary Hit Points are a magic force field against pain. Just like in video games with force fields (HALO and Half-Life spring to mind) you can only have so much protection.
As long as an attack doesn't blow through your force field, you don't really care how much it gets hit (though you do monitor it). If something gets through, you take the pain your force field didn't absorb. Your force field (temporary hit points) can be renewed by powers but you can only ever have one force field, and it is only as powerful as the last one generated.

Does that clear it up?


P.S. If you ever use 4E to run sci-fi, temporary hp is a great way to model protective energy fields for both personnel and equipment.

 

[ellim1]

temp HP

So I am playing an Assassain character, and my characters class is Bleak Disciple. The effect says that EVERY time i hit i gain my Con Modifier in Temp HP. Does this effect Stack? because if it does not then the assassains Temp HP ability is pretty much useless after level 6

 

[NMcCoy]

No. Temp HP never stacks. Period.

 

[Infiniti2000]

Why is it useless after level 6? Although it may be a small amount, it's still free temporary hp (unless you think there's a better power).