D&D 5E (2024) How I would do 6E.

[Minigiant]

I agree with you the starting hit points should be higher to counter those 1st-2nd level TPK horror stories.

I would be in favour of
1st Level = Max Hit Points + Constitution Score (if your Constitution Score every increases so do your hit points).

That still slightly lower than I'd do it.

I'd take out Con bonus to HP and let you start with 3 HD.

This also let's you play with Tough feat and having only warrior types adding Con to HD.

 

[Yaarel]

Instead of max hitdie at level 1. Take the standard average. But then add an additional average from the species.

7 hit points: Dwarf, Orc
6 hp: Dragonborn, Goliath
5 hp: Human, Elf, Awsimar, Tiefling
4 hp: Halfling, Gnome

These species hit points only apply once at level 0 for origin, and dont relate to later improvements when gaining class levels.

 

[AnotherGuy]

That still slightly lower than I'd do it.

I'd take out Con bonus to HP and let you start with 3 HD.

This also let's you play with Tough feat and having only warrior types adding Con to HD.

I agree the 3HD is a better fit as it accentuates the importance and difference between the classes, whereas the Con score creates more same-y.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Oh yeah, race-specific hit dice, I remember that the d20 Farscape game had that, and classes added a bonus modifier, and your class determined control point die and the race giving a bonus modifier. IIRC, that basically lead Hynerians Aristocrats being bad at both and Delvian Priestesses being good at both. Explains what got Rygel so mean-spirited, I guess.

Aynway, you better prepared to give the low-hit-dice species something worth the loss and not just say for verisimilitude's sake, they are worse at combat.

It might actually be better and remove constitution as attribute an acknowledge that hit points and hit dice got nothing to do with meat. (In any place you used to use Constitution, use Strength instead, except hit points, who are no longer affected by any ability score, unless you perhaps take a special feat or your class decides which ability affects hit points.)