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Message: <blockquote data-quote="CRGreathouse" data-source="post: 1251291" data-attributes="member: 474"><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />I'll stick to what I said.  Being risk-adverse means that you value your first (whatever) more than your last (whatever), and being risk-loving measn that you value your last (whatever) more than your first (whatever).For example, I am risk adverse with money.  I wouldn't accept a 50% chance to win $20,000 if the chance cost $10,000 -- I value the $10k I have more than the $10k I stand to gain.  If I were risk-neutral, I might well take that chance -- and I certainly would take it if I were risk-loving.Normally, being somewhat risk-adverse with D&D hit points is sensible -- as the 3.0 DMG said, below-average hp hurt PCs more than above-average hp help them.  However, there are times when being risk-loving can be sensible with D&D hit points.  For example, take a 90-hp character who expects to face a wizard with power word kill.  With Con 14 and a d12 HD, he'll average 98.5 hp.  It would be a prudent strategy for him to reroll anything under 9, though, to maximize the chance of getting to the 101-hp threshhold for surviving PWK.  This will lower his average hp by 0.25 hp, but it's a good move in his position.Assuming risk-neutral behavior, or whatever you'd prefer to call it:On a d4, you average 2.5 -- you can't reroll any lower.On a d6, reroll 1s and 2s, since you're better off -- on average -- with the d4.  Thus, you average (2.5 + 2.5 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6) / 6 =~ 3.8On a d8, reroll 1-3 since the d6 gives higher results.  You average about 5.2On a d10, reroll 1-5 since the d8 gives better results.  You average about 6.6On the d12, reroll 1-6 since the d10 gives better results in the long run.</blockquote>

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