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<blockquote data-quote="kirkdent" data-source="post: 6719047" data-attributes="member: 6802200">You can also look at starting as an &quot;experienced&quot; 1st level character as being WAY out of practice with your talents.&nbsp; For example, you can act as though you were once a 5th level Battle Master Fighter, and you've had that 18 STR, 43 HP, 100 GP and +4 Intimidate rank before, but have gotten soft in the last few years.&nbsp; Now you're a 16 STR, 12 HP 1st fighter who's burned through all his years of adventuring money and is too doughy to be so frightening, now only a +3 Intimidate with your proficiency.&nbsp; Advancement through the first few levels goes pretty quickly anyway, so it only takes a few encounters to get &quot;back up to speed,&quot; as it were.If you think of HP as discosoc mentioned above, it's essentially just another skill (not &quot;Skill&quot; proper) that you improve as you gain experience, not the result of any actual improved physical resilience.&nbsp; As such, it is explainable as part of your backstory to &quot;lose&quot; HP or any other numerical ranking (proficiency bonus, ability improvements, class features) from a higher level.That said, it kinda works best if you don't make your backstory self a 15th level juggernaut, but keep it down to single digit levels.&nbsp; After that, the fluff of how you fell from your great stature is all up to your imagination.&nbsp; Are you a fallen cleric, who must prove herself again to her god?&nbsp; Were you imprisoned for arcane spellcraft, and now after years of solitude must resharpen your mind and begin your spellbook anew?&nbsp; Your rogue won't maintain those quick (3rd level) lockpicking skills without practice, but how's he supposed to do that when every waking hour for months on end has been spent caring for his dying mother?</blockquote>

[QUOTE="kirkdent, post: 6719047, member: 6802200"] You can also look at starting as an "experienced" 1st level character as being WAY out of practice with your talents. For example, you can act as though you were once a 5th level Battle Master Fighter, and you've had that 18 STR, 43 HP, 100 GP and +4 Intimidate rank before, but have gotten soft in the last few years. Now you're a 16 STR, 12 HP 1st fighter who's burned through all his years of adventuring money and is too doughy to be so frightening, now only a +3 Intimidate with your proficiency. Advancement through the first few levels goes pretty quickly anyway, so it only takes a few encounters to get "back up to speed," as it were. If you think of HP as discosoc mentioned above, it's essentially just another skill (not "Skill" proper) that you improve as you gain experience, not the result of any actual improved physical resilience. As such, it is explainable as part of your backstory to "lose" HP or any other numerical ranking (proficiency bonus, ability improvements, class features) from a higher level. That said, it kinda works best if you don't make your backstory self a 15th level juggernaut, but keep it down to single digit levels. After that, the fluff of how you fell from your great stature is all up to your imagination. Are you a fallen cleric, who must prove herself again to her god? Were you imprisoned for arcane spellcraft, and now after years of solitude must resharpen your mind and begin your spellbook anew? Your rogue won't maintain those quick (3rd level) lockpicking skills without practice, but how's he supposed to do that when every waking hour for months on end has been spent caring for his dying mother? [/QUOTE]

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