Argyle King
Legend
In the past, when DMing, I gave max HP for levels 1-3. After that, you can either roll 1dX or take the average value.
D&D 5E [Hit Points] What method do you use to determine HP after level 1?
- Thread starter Marc_C
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Swarmkeeper
Hero
In our current West Marches campaign, we give session XP so PCs will sometimes level up at end of session. They can choose to roll or take the class average. If the PC has unused Inspiration at the end of a session (Inspiration doesn't carry over to the next session), they can choose to roll for HP with advantage.
Ath'kethin
Elder Thing
Like a couple of others, I do max HP at every level. I started doing that in the waning days of 3e, when players became fewer and farther between and my groups got smaller. I discovered I really prefer small groups (like 3 PCs max), and the extra hp helps both keep them going and keep them trying new and daring stuff.
I also do max values for being potions and healing magic. The only thing that sucks as bad as rolling poorly for hit points is rolling poorly to restore them.
I should note that I run very sword-and-sorcery style games, so the encounters tend to be tough to brutal in difficulty, I don't have any magic items (including healing potions) for sale, and I often ban full casters aside from the warlock, so a PC's life isn't as comfy as you might suspect. I enjoy playing tough, and I like my players' characters to live long enough to enjoy it too.
I also do max values for being potions and healing magic. The only thing that sucks as bad as rolling poorly for hit points is rolling poorly to restore them.
I should note that I run very sword-and-sorcery style games, so the encounters tend to be tough to brutal in difficulty, I don't have any magic items (including healing potions) for sale, and I often ban full casters aside from the warlock, so a PC's life isn't as comfy as you might suspect. I enjoy playing tough, and I like my players' characters to live long enough to enjoy it too.
overgeeked
Open-World Sandbox
Roll with a minimum of the class average.
pming
Legend
Hiya!
Player rolls. If they don't like the result...they can have me, the DM roll it. BUT they keep that roll...even if it's lower.
This tends to have PC's end up with average or better HP's, but not always. I've had a Player get greedy, roll a 5 on the d10 for HP's then ask me to roll...and get a 1.
^_^
Paul L. Ming
Player rolls. If they don't like the result...they can have me, the DM roll it. BUT they keep that roll...even if it's lower.
This tends to have PC's end up with average or better HP's, but not always. I've had a Player get greedy, roll a 5 on the d10 for HP's then ask me to roll...and get a 1.
^_^
Paul L. Ming
Quartz
Hero
Pick a number N between 0 and 3. Everyone starts with max HP at first level, maybe second level too, and thereafter gets MAX (HD) - N per level.
This allows us to steepen or lessen the difficulty level.
For example, if N is 3, Wizards, using d6, get 3 HP per level and Barbarians, using d12, get 9 HP per level.
This allows us to steepen or lessen the difficulty level.
For example, if N is 3, Wizards, using d6, get 3 HP per level and Barbarians, using d12, get 9 HP per level.
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Quartz
Hero
If you're doing that you should make your CON bonus the floor, or maybe a re-roll if you get below that number.
Low HP warriors are pretty terrible in every edition and randomness works against them. Yes, it should average out in the long run but a low HP warrior will likely not survive to see the long run.
We've always been a "let the dice fall as they may" kind of group, we roll in the open, and that's carried over to our hit point rolls when leveling up. My current campaign includes an elf sorcerer with no Con bonus who rolled "1" for his hp increases at both level 2 and 3. So he had 4 hp (max) at 1st level, 5 hp at 2nd level, and would have had 6 hp at 3rd level had he not decided to take Toughness as his 3rd-level feat and bump it up to 9 hp. (We suggested taking a toad familiar would get him to the same total but he's holding out on an Improved Familiar.)
In any case, we find the hit point variability to be just another factor in the game. That party's elf sorcerer is a bit on the weak side so he adjusts his actions accordingly and scrupulously avoids the front line at all costs. It helps that we have a 3rd-level dwarf cleric and a half-orc with one cleric level and two paladin levels in the party to keep him healthy. Heck, the elf usually has a virtue spell cast upon him as part of the group's "battle prep" to give him one extra hp so he can hang in the fight that much longer.
Johnathan
In any case, we find the hit point variability to be just another factor in the game. That party's elf sorcerer is a bit on the weak side so he adjusts his actions accordingly and scrupulously avoids the front line at all costs. It helps that we have a 3rd-level dwarf cleric and a half-orc with one cleric level and two paladin levels in the party to keep him healthy. Heck, the elf usually has a virtue spell cast upon him as part of the group's "battle prep" to give him one extra hp so he can hang in the fight that much longer.
Johnathan
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