How do you determine hitpoints?

[coyote6]

I did best one out of two, and the hp got pretty high. Good luck, mainly, I guess (the rolls were in front of me).

I am currently going with "better of the roll, or half max + 1", a la GoddesFallenAngel. But I'm tempted to switch to the Iron Heroes system.

(Iron Heroes has class HD expressed as "1d4+x", where x+4 add up to the max of a standard HD -- so barbarians would roll 1d4+8, fighters & other d10ers 1d4+6, 1d4+4 for d8 HD, & 1d4+2 for d6 HD. Less variance, and everyone [except the poor 1d4 types] gets at least half+1.)

 

[Azul]

Where's the option for "Other" in that poll?

1st level is stock PHB -- Max possible roll + Con

2nd level onwards, players have a choice each time they level:

1) Take (1/2 max possible roll)+1... average roll rounded up if you prefer (d4=3, d6=4, d8=5, d10=6 and d12=7)

OR

2) Roll two dice and keep the best of the two. If you roll two ones, tough cookies and better luck next time (We've seen d6 and d8 classes turn up ones and d10 and d12 classes turn up 2s and 3s often enough to keep players edgy when rolling).

The usual trend is players almost always take option 1 with d4 hit dice, split about 50/50 on the d6 classes, about 70/30 in favour of option 2 on the d8 classes and usually roll on the d10 or d12 hit die classes. We ran the numbers and option 2 is always preferrable... on average. For the d4, most players feel the risk isn't worth the possible benefit. As the hit die gets bigger the lure of significantly more hit points becomes more tempting.

However, averages don't mean much when you've just rolled snake eyes. My more risk-averse players favour the fixed hit point option more while my gamblers and math-oriented folks trust the stats and rely on rolling the two dice.

Sometimes a player with a high hit die class will have a string of bad luck rolling and opt for option 1 just because they feel they can't afford another bad roll.

 

[jgbrowning]

Other.

1d4= as rolled
1d6= as rolled
1d8= 1s rerolled
1d10= 1s and 2s rerolled
1d12= 1-3s rerolled

joe b.

 

[Gothic_Demon]

A bit more randomness

I actually ADD some more randomness. Each player rolls one HD, and I (as DM) roll one HD behind the screen. They can then take their roll, or risk their roll and take mine. Similar to taking the best of two, although it makes players think about their HP roll before they go for mine.

 

[Bagpuss]

Always include an OTHER option on your polls.

We roll, but if you get below the low average of the dice you get that instead.

So say you get d8, you roll a d8 and but get a minimum of 4 if you roll 3 or less.

 

[wedgeski]

I wonder if hit-point rolling would qualify as the most-variously house-ruled bit of D&D?

 

[DragonLancer]

In my group it's max at 1st level and then roll every level. If you get a 1 its tough, but you stick with it. My players agree with this system which helps.

If you allow max every level then it gets a little unbalanced in favour of those classes with high hit dice.

 

[Staffan]

I allow rerolls, but with the next smaller die. (Only even-sided dice used. No d3, d5, d7)
Rerolls may also be rerolled in same fashion.

Ditto.

 

[JoeGKushner]

In my group it's max at 1st level and then roll every level. If you get a 1 its tough, but you stick with it. My players agree with this system which helps.

If you allow max every level then it gets a little unbalanced in favour of those classes with high hit dice.

But aren't most (all) of those classes up front line fighters anyway which is why they have those high hit dice? If a player rolled maximum on his hit dice every level, would you then peanlize him? :\

 

[Ravellion]

My players are sloppy and lose their sheets. To prevent rerolling hp:

Half their HD number every level. Ie. d8 = 4, d12 = 6. If you inflate the number of hitpoints, direct damage spells becoem less powerful, and disabling spells more powerful. I don't like that.

Rav