D&D 4E 4e HP speculation based on new D&D podcast

[Rechan]

Well they have said that rolling for HP is gone multiple times since the announcement. So I think all that's left is class based static HP or something riffing off the new BAB calcs where its a static bonus + class based bonus.

Well, I for one would not have a problem with that, but Khuxan's 6 hp for a defender is a Joke. That's just 2 more than the mage, who we keep being told are smooshy.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Well, I for one would not have a problem with that, but Khuxan's 6 hp for a defender is a Joke. That's just 2 more than the mage, who we keep being told are smooshy.

Our group uses rounded averages, which means Wizards get 3, Rogues 4, Clerics 5, Fighters 6 and Barbarians 7.
I think that's a sensible spread, though I suspect that Wizards will probably move up one step. (Which would mean only a 2 point difference). Well, statistics of 3.x already determine that the spread difference is not larger than 3 (not accounting for 1st level hit points or con bonus), so I guess the numbers are reasonable.

The triple hit points at 1st level might be a great argument for picking 1st level being a Fighter, but we don't know how multiclassing works exactly. If picking Fighter as first level means more hit points but less magical class bonus in the long run that's a very stupid idea for spellcasters.
I suspect that the 1st level benefits will be balanced, so that it's always best to start with your intended class.

 

[AZRogue]

I'm too nice. I would always let my players roll once for hit points and if they didn't like it they could then choose the average of their hit die.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I'm too nice. I would always let my players roll once for hit points and if they didn't like it they could then choose the average of their hit die.

If you also gave them more than a 25 point buy equivalent, you are definitely too nice.

(Ah, well, even we have become more generous in the last few campaigns... But only for point-buy!)

 

[Khuxan]

Well, I for one would not have a problem with that, but Khuxan's 6 hp for a defender is a Joke. That's just 2 more than the mage, who we keep being told are smooshy.

For the record, it's Dragonblade who posits 6hp for the defender. I was just explaining hit points are more likely to be distributed by class than role.

6 is the average of 1d10, while 4 is the average of 1d6 - this is equivalent to the hit point spread between fighter and bard now. I don't know if you consider bards smooshy.

 

[Dragonblade]

For the record, it's Dragonblade who posits 6hp for the defender. I was just explaining hit points are more likely to be distributed by class than role.

It is me. I have no inside knowledge or anything. This is just my speculation, but I think I'm pretty close to how they are going to do it.

 

[Virthe]

I hope they do away with HP based on class and role. Classes and roles could and probably should affect HP in the way of giving access options to boosts, but should not affect the base number.

Classes that are Defenders should for example get options to more uses and more frequent uses of Second Wind and more upgrade to HP (as per Toughness). Other classes may get these as well, but would only be able to take the basic boosts.

More uses of Second Wind effectively translates to more HP in the end.

I think HP should be based on race and character level.
Dwarfs: Sturdy so higher HP.
Human: About average.
Eladrin: Fragile, so less HP.
And so on for other races.

 

[Mirtek]

Well, I for one would not have a problem with that, but Khuxan's 6 hp for a defender is a Joke. That's just 2 more than the mage, who we keep being told are smooshy.

Even with rolling d4 and d10, a fighter has only 3 more than a mage (2,.5 vs. 5.5), the rest always came from constitution

 

[Jack99]

I really hope WoTC doesn't touch this sacred cow, at least not too much. Rolling HP's is a must, but the spread should be less, to avoid hopeless characters.

 

[shilsen]

If you also gave them more than a 25 point buy equivalent, you are definitely too nice.

(Ah, well, even we have become more generous in the last few campaigns... But only for point-buy!)

If you think he's too nice, you should see me. My PCs got to start with 80 points divided between their six abilities on a one-for-one basis, which translated to a point buy of anywhere from 36 to 42. And on top of that when they roll hit points, if they roll less than half on the die they get the half score (4 on d8, 6 on d12, etc). And with all that we average a PC going to -10 or below every alternate session. Some of us seem way nicer than we are