3d10 xp, for realism

[punkorange]

Does anyone else think its strange that characters get hit points randomly, while the less-important skill points are set? Has anyone tried rolling skill points?

Hmm. What about allowing skill points to be spent on hp, or something like that.

Im curious, when you guys say you don't have your players roll random hp, do you just give them avg plus con, or what?

 

[shilsen]

Im curious, when you guys say you don't have your players roll random hp, do you just give them avg plus con, or what?

I give 75% of max of rolled hp + Con (and max hp on the first die, as usual).

For example: A cleric, druid, monk or ranger (d8) will get 6 hp per die after the 1st one, plus Con. A fighter or paladin (d10) will get 7 and 8 hp on alternate levels, plus Con. And so on.

 

[Galethorn]

Now, for a really grim n' gritty game, I like to have the players roll 1d4 for the number of limbs their character has.

But seriously, I like the idea, but am worried about how players might react.

 

[Sun Wukong]

Im curious, when you guys say you don't have your players roll random hp, do you just give them avg plus con, or what?

Even levels, average + Con. Odd levels, average + 1 + Con.

 

[Darkness]

The only thing I let my players roll in character creation/level advancement is starting money at level 1. And since we almost never start at level 1 anyway, even that doesn't really happen.

Im curious, when you guys say you don't have your players roll random hp, do you just give them avg plus con, or what?

Yes, maximized at 1st level as normal and rounded down from the total.

Cleric with 12 Con:
Level 1: 8 + 1 = 9
Level 2: (8 + 4.5) + 2*1 = 14.5 = 14
Level 3: (8 + 2*4.5) + 3*1 = 20

 

[Wormwood]

Like others, I don't do any randomization at all in character development (generation or levelling).

Actually, I'm tinkering with some sort of "permanent take 10" on the entire game.

 

[weasel fierce]

I like randomness in character generation, though I'd start people off at the same level or XP amount.

D&D will never be completely fair to everyone, as the classes are too diverse and disparate in ability and specializations. Besides, rolling dice is fun.

 

[S'mon]

I don't think random XP in starting PCs adds anything - the gap between 0 and 1000 XP in game-play terms is very narrow anyway, an adventuring PC can easily earn that in a few days of adventuring. A level 1 0 XP PC doesn't have to be '16 years old & never did nuthin', I'm quite happy for a Ftr-1 PC to be a 38-year-old veteran mercenary if that's what the player wants. Presumably he recently crossed some kind of threshold that turned him from a mere Warrior into a true Fighter & can now earn XP and progress rapidly in power.

 

[reanjr]

I've done random level before. 1d4.

 

[Mixmaster]

At the start of my latest campaign I had all the player roll a d10 3 times. Placing these numbers in order you get a number between 1 and 1000 (OK, 0 and 999, but give me some gamer slack).

This number was how many XP they started with, giving a gap of experience between players. I think it has worked well, and added something to the game.

What non-phb randomizers have you added?

I do it exactly that same way too. Makes it interesting when someone (who rolled 900+) makes a level after the 1st session vs someone (who rolled 100+). The lower person will add more backstory and rp possibilities for xp gain (I give rp bonuses)