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<blockquote data-quote="Gothmog" data-source="post: 1819507" data-attributes="member: 317">The idea of monster levels is a compelling one- I might have to work on that myself.&nbsp; Anyway, I had a similar idea for modifiying hit points based on size, and lowering MDT for my low-magic game.&nbsp; So far these mods have worked very well, and the players seem very satisfied with the more lethal results from the MDT, but offers better survivability to beginning characters.&nbsp; Here is what I use.Hit Points and Massive Damage Threshold (MDT)&nbsp; &nbsp; Combat in a low magic/gritty game is a dangerous affair, and even seasoned warriors can be dragged down under numbers of inexperienced attackers.&nbsp; In order to present a threat to higher level characters, as well as enhance beginning character survivability, all characters in the game gain a number of hit points at creation based upon their Constitution score.&nbsp; In addition, to simulate the fact that death can come from a lucky blow from even the most unlikely source, a lowered Massive Damage Threshold variant is presented.&nbsp; All characters now begin with a number of hit points equal to their Constitution score, multiplied by their Size Multiplier, plus any hit dice.&nbsp; For creatures without a Con score, assume their Con is 20 for the purposes of adding extra hit points.&nbsp; &nbsp; For example: A 1st level human fighter with a 16 Con would have (16 Con + 3 Con bonus) 19 + 1d10 hit points.&nbsp; An ogre (size large) with a 15 Con would have (15 Con x 2 size + 8 Con bonus) 38 + 4d8 hit points.&nbsp; A human zombie, which doesn’t have a Con score, would have (virtual 20 Con + 0 Con bonus + 3 Toughness) 23 + 2d12 hit points.&nbsp; &nbsp; In addition, all creatures except for constructs, oozes, plants, and undead have a Massive Damage Threshold (MDT).&nbsp; MDT is based on the character’s Con score, and modified by size and the Fortitude Base Save.&nbsp; Anytime a single blow, spell, or attack overcomes a creature’s MDT, it must make a DC 15 Fort save or fall to 0 hit points and begin losing 1 hit point per round until dead, stabilized, or healed.&nbsp; For every 5 hit points of damage a creature’s MDT is exceeded by in a single attack, the Fort save DC is increased by +1.&nbsp; Any creature that is immune to critical hits also is immune to MDT saves.&nbsp; &nbsp; For example- A 1st level human fighter with a 16 Con would have a MDT of 18 (16 Con + 2 Fort).&nbsp; An ogre (size large) with a 15 Con would have a MDT of 23 (15 Con + 4 size + 3 Fort).&nbsp; An imp (size tiny) with a Con of 10 would have a MDT of 9 (10 Con + 3 Fort - 4 size).&nbsp; An ancient red dragon with a Con of 29 would have a MDT of 64 (29 Con + 19 Fort +&nbsp; 16 size).Size&nbsp; &nbsp; Size Mult.&nbsp; &nbsp; MDTFine&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; X.1&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; -8Diminutive&nbsp; X.1&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; -6Tiny&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; X.25&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; -4Small&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; X.5&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; -2Medium&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; X1&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; +0Large&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; X2&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; +4Huge&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; X4&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; +8Gargantuan&nbsp; X8&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; +16Colossal&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; X16&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; +32</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Gothmog, post: 1819507, member: 317"] The idea of monster levels is a compelling one- I might have to work on that myself. Anyway, I had a similar idea for modifiying hit points based on size, and lowering MDT for my low-magic game. So far these mods have worked very well, and the players seem very satisfied with the more lethal results from the MDT, but offers better survivability to beginning characters. Here is what I use. Hit Points and Massive Damage Threshold (MDT) Combat in a low magic/gritty game is a dangerous affair, and even seasoned warriors can be dragged down under numbers of inexperienced attackers. In order to present a threat to higher level characters, as well as enhance beginning character survivability, all characters in the game gain a number of hit points at creation based upon their Constitution score. In addition, to simulate the fact that death can come from a lucky blow from even the most unlikely source, a lowered Massive Damage Threshold variant is presented. All characters now begin with a number of hit points equal to their Constitution score, multiplied by their Size Multiplier, plus any hit dice. For creatures without a Con score, assume their Con is 20 for the purposes of adding extra hit points. For example: A 1st level human fighter with a 16 Con would have (16 Con + 3 Con bonus) 19 + 1d10 hit points. An ogre (size large) with a 15 Con would have (15 Con x 2 size + 8 Con bonus) 38 + 4d8 hit points. A human zombie, which doesn’t have a Con score, would have (virtual 20 Con + 0 Con bonus + 3 Toughness) 23 + 2d12 hit points. In addition, all creatures except for constructs, oozes, plants, and undead have a Massive Damage Threshold (MDT). MDT is based on the character’s Con score, and modified by size and the Fortitude Base Save. Anytime a single blow, spell, or attack overcomes a creature’s MDT, it must make a DC 15 Fort save or fall to 0 hit points and begin losing 1 hit point per round until dead, stabilized, or healed. For every 5 hit points of damage a creature’s MDT is exceeded by in a single attack, the Fort save DC is increased by +1. Any creature that is immune to critical hits also is immune to MDT saves. For example- A 1st level human fighter with a 16 Con would have a MDT of 18 (16 Con + 2 Fort). An ogre (size large) with a 15 Con would have a MDT of 23 (15 Con + 4 size + 3 Fort). An imp (size tiny) with a Con of 10 would have a MDT of 9 (10 Con + 3 Fort - 4 size). An ancient red dragon with a Con of 29 would have a MDT of 64 (29 Con + 19 Fort + 16 size). Size Size Mult. MDT Fine X.1 -8 Diminutive X.1 -6 Tiny X.25 -4 Small X.5 -2 Medium X1 +0 Large X2 +4 Huge X4 +8 Gargantuan X8 +16 Colossal X16 +32 [/QUOTE]

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