HP: how many per level?

[MarkB]

average. round up. 1d4 -> 3hp, 1d6 -> 4 hp, 1d8 -> 5hp, 1d10 -> 6hp, 1d12 -> 7hp.

Likewise, in games I DM. Our DM in our current Shackled City campaign uses strict averages past 1st level, going by the table in the DMG.

 

[KarinsDad]

We roll, but allow the PCs to roll two dice and take the highest. So a Cleric rolls 2d8 and takes the highest roll. It keeps the average up a bit. I haven't done the math, but I imagine that it allows for about an extra 1-3 HP per level over average, depending upon your class.

about 0.6 to 2

D4: 3.125 = increase of 0.625
D6: 4.47222 = increase of 0.97222
D8: 5.8125 = increase of 1.3125
D10: 7.15 = increase of 1.65
D12: 8.48611 = increase of 1.98611


The interesting thing about hit point increasing strategies is that they then make Con a less valuable commodity and steer players into loading up Dex instead of Con as a secondary ability score.

 

[EvilGM]

In the gestalt Wilderlands campaign I'm running we do max hit points. So far they've needed them.

 

[The Human Target]

Fixed HP when I run a game.

Generally max at every level if we're playing my usual level of difficulty.

Anymore I start player out with 3 to 5 times their HP at first level, and reduce the amount of HP gain as they level up accordingly.

 

[frankthedm]

average. round up. 1d4 -> 3hp, 1d6 -> 4 hp, 1d8 -> 5hp, 1d10 -> 6hp, 1d12 -> 7hp.

Same here, PC, NPC or Monster. A Player could roll if they want, but they live with the results good or bad.

 

[rgard]

So, a few comments on the Build Points thread got me wondering: How may groups use a fixed hit-point system (or a non-standard roll), and how many?

I've seen several references to using maximum hit points per die at every level. Personally, after a bad experience with a Fighter with a 13 Con, Improved Toughness, and 37 hit points total, I've been using "average" hit points per die (rounded up, so a d8 = 5, a d10 = 6, etc.). So far it seems to be going well, but I haven't really had a chance to witness it from a non-DM POV. The only thing close was one game where the DM kept hit points "behind the screen", but where my fifth-level Rogue (with no Con bonus) had over 40 hit points. I suspect he was using the "20 hp kicker" from HackMaster, but it kind of defeated the purpose (or, at least, what I was guessing the purpose was) of keeping hp secret once we found out just what huge amounts of punishment our characters could take...

We house-ruled it. You roll, but your minimum is .5 above average. So:

d4 = 3 minimum
d6 = 4 minimum
d8 = 5 minimum
d10 = 6 minimum
d12 = 7 minimum

It worked out fine as the NPCs and critters had the same HP mins.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[Atreides]

The system that I have been very pleased with is as follows:

HP gained is d4+x
X is the number which will provide maximum hit points for your hit die type.

1d4 is 1d4
1d6 is 1d4 + 2
1d8 is 1d4 + 4
1d10 is 1d4 + 6
1d12 is 1d4 + 8

I have found that it provides a nice advantage for the Barbarian/Fighter types and guarantees that their 'HD advantage' will truly be an advantage.

I've seen it in two games as a player, and used it in 3 games that I have DM'd, and it has
been very pleasantly received by everyone.

 

[Li Shenron]

I can't even remember all the different variants we used so far...

In the latest game I'm just giving out max Hp per HD and I have absolutely no problem with it!

It eliminates the only randomness left in character creation: not that having no randomness is necessary, but since recently we use point-buy for stats in almost every campaign, there is no point in leaving Hp random. In case we decide to roll for stats, then we can roll for Hp too.

It makes characters a little tougher. So what? We can have more fights per day, that's not bad...

It makes Constitution less important. Apparently this seems a bad thing, but it was the only stat that no one ever wanted to have a penalty. Now it's possible to have Con 8 or even 6 and roleplay a "low health" character without risking too much.

 

[Scharlata]

So, a few comments on the Build Points thread got me wondering: How may groups use a fixed hit-point system (or a non-standard roll), and how many.

Hi!

In the Shackled City Adventure Path I'm in (run by Zaister), we roll normally for hp and if we don't get at least average hp, we are allowed to take average hp as default. Got us a longer life span... *twink@zaister*

Enjoy!

 

[Perun]

We roll (with the default maximum at 2st level), but each type of die has a different re-roll value, that is:

• d4 - you get what you roll
• d6 - re-roll on a 1
• d8 - re-roll on 1 or 2
• d10 and d12 - re-roll on 1, 2, or 3

You only get one re-roll (this is an addendum we added last session, since our warblade rolled three 1s in a row).

Regards.