D&D 5E [Hit Points] What method do you use to determine HP after level 1?

[Aging Bard]

As an ancient 1e DM, I use a method with is generous by 1e standards but quite risky by 5e standards. There is always some uncertainty, but the tails can be cut off to reduce variance.

1) You roll for each HD; 2) At 1st level, the minimum roll must be 4 or the HD average rounded up, whichever is highest;
3) Each roll may either be (player choice) a normal die or an averaging die: d6 is 2,3,3,4,4,5, d8 is 3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6, etc.
A dN averaging die is exactly equal to the rounded up average of a normal dN die and its rounded up average (N+1)/2. Elegant!

 

[Marc_C]

Results after 102 votes (July 4th):

 

[Shiroiken]

Technically my group allows the choice of dice or average... but since we can all do math, we always take the average. While I don't like the fact that it rounds up, I must admit it makes it easy to audit your HP if you're not sure.

 

[Voadam]

Low HP warriors are pretty terrible in every edition and randomness works against them. Yes, it should average out in the long run but a low HP warrior will likely not survive to see the long run.

B/X and pre 3e fighters are much more likely to have low hp.

3e and 5e 1st level fighters have default 10 hp + con modifier. The hp bump at first level was a great 3e innovation IMO.

B/X fighters have 1d8 + con modifier (max +3). A B/X fighter can take a while to catch up to the 1st level fighter of later editions, particularly with a few low rolls. The difference in fighter survivability of 10 hp vs. 1 is significant, particularly when the consequences of going to zero in older editions is also more lethal.

 

[Quartz]

3e and 5e 1st level fighters have default 10 hp + con modifier. The hp bump at first level was a great 3e innovation IMO.

Yes, but they can still roll low numbers for subsequent levels. Let's take a typical fighter PC who starts with 14 Con so has 12 HP at first level. Suppose she rolls an average of 2 for the next 4 levels. So at 5th level she has a whole 28 HP when her maximum is 60. Is she really going to survive when enemies are throwing Fireballs and Lightning Bolts? A 12 Con wizard who rolls well (average of 5) has 31 HP - more!

Apply my method and she gets 48, 52, 56, or 60 HP. That's a big difference.

 

[Doc_Klueless]

I was discussing this elsewhere and it seems not everyone is using the same method. Which is yours?

I just go with the Average or whatever that number is in the parenthesis. If the player decides they wanna roll, I haven't heard about it. And don't really care much. As the DM, I have a 1001 ways to drain hit points if I really wanna.

 

[ECMO3]

I was discussing this elsewhere and it seems not everyone is using the same method. Which is yours? This is not a discussion about what BTB is. It's a discussion about what methods individual groups have adopted.

Edit: I've added two more choices in the poll.

Results after 102 votes (July 4th):

I use rolls, no rerolls, one time only.

It creates quite a bit of variation but always seems best. It puts an element of randmoness into the game and players have to adapt to playing with that element.

Back in 1E we had a half-orc fighter/assasin who rolled a 1 or a 2 every single roll after first level. At level 10/14 I think he had 24 hps. We had a Drow Magic-User with more hit points. He adapted his play style to it and was still a very fun charactetr to play.

That is the most extreme example I remember.

 

[ECMO3]

I was discussing this elsewhere and it seems not everyone is using the same method. Which is yours? This is not a discussion about what BTB is. It's a discussion about what methods individual groups have adopted.

Edit: I've added two more choices in the poll.

Results after 102 votes (July 4th):

When we are talking about average it is important to note average is 3.5, 4.5, 5.5 and 6.5 on a d6, d8, d10, d12 respectively. So if you "take 4" on a d6 you are taking above average.

Given the choice between taking the rounded up average and rolling you are statistically better off by taking the rounded up average.

 

[DammitVictor]

Pre-5e I was really fond of max at 1st, reroll all your HD every level after that-- take the higher of the reroll or current total + 1/2/3 (by class), HD capped at name level.

Nowadays, I'd probably want to tie CON and HD and max HP together differently.

 

[Marc_C]

When we are talking about average it is important to note average is 3.5, 4.5, 5.5 and 6.5 on a d6, d8, d10, d12 respectively. So if you "take 4" on a d6 you are taking above average.

Given the choice between taking the rounded up average and rolling you are statistically better off by taking the rounded up average.

Yes of course. 0.5 are not results you can roll on a die. The 'average' is rounded up in favour of the player.