Leveling up = Healing?

[Malvoisin]

Okay, gurus, another silly question....

If a character who is injured levels up, how does that affect their hit point totals?

For example, if a character is at 4/9 hp, and levels up (gaining 5 hp in the process), what is the new hit point total?

4/14? OR 9/14?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Corsair]

9/14. He still has 5 damage on him.


Look at it this way: What if the character was at full health? (9/9) and leveled up, gaining 5 HP. Would you have him at 14/14 or 9/14?

 

[Nonlethal Force]

As a houserule, I know there are some DMs who are math nerdy and they find the % healed. So, to make the math simple ...

A character has 40 max HP. Their current HP total is at 30. Thus they are 75% healthy. Should the character level up before healing, they would get 75% (rounded up) of their new HP. This keeps the character at the same health during the level-up. So, if a character would receive 4 new HP at the level they would only at 3 to their total. 6 new HP and they would add 5 to their current total. A barbarian with a decent CON might even add 15 HP to their max potential, but if they were 75% healthy to begin with they would only add 12 to their current total. This is - of course - a houserule.

The correct method by RAW - I believe - is the one listed above. If the caharacter gets to add X HP to the max at level-up, they add X HP to their current total.

 

[Obrysii]

9/14. He still has 5 damage on him.


Look at it this way: What if the character was at full health? (9/9) and leveled up, gaining 5 HP. Would you have him at 14/14 or 9/14?

This is how I would do it as well. Where they'd be at 9/14 because they still have the five points of damage on them.

 

[the Jester]

I know several dms who let you heal completely when you level up.

Personally, I agree with Corsair.

 

[Infiniti2000]

9/14. He still has 5 damage on him.

This is the method as outlined in the PH, pg. 58 Step 5.

 

[Patlin]

I also concur. Track Maximum hp and damage. Raising maximum hp doesn't effect damage.

 

[KarinsDad]

In my game, it is slightly different than this.

PCs can only gain level after sleeping for the night. So, being at 4/9 (presumably for a first level PC, but it could be a second level PC), the PC would gain 1 (or 2) for sleeping and 5 for level and be at 10/14 (or 11/14).

 

[kayn99]

I would not allow a level to be gained until they are fully rested, healed of any damage, or ability damage. I also make them train for that level if they are getting any special abilities.

Kayn