Rolling HP Variant

[Plane Sailing]

My players hate rolling 1's for HP. It's kinda sad to go up a level, roll your big d10, and end up with a 1. Mathematically, intellectually, we realize that it's going to average out, but it still hurts to see that 1.

So, what I've done is to shift all die rolls up to at least 1/2 the HD. So, if a Wizard rolled a 1, he'd really get 2 HP. Likewise, a Fighter would get at least 5 HP per level.

I've just instituted this very rule for my campaign.

One of the chief reasons, if I might disagree with you slightly, is that mathematically it might not average out because there are too few rolls made over the characters lifetime (levels). It isn't like using a bastard sword for 1d10 damage - you can be pretty sure that the average damage will be 5.5 while your 5th level, because you roll that die hundreds of times. Hit dice are only rolled once per level, which gives a huge degree of randomness.

(Of course, I'm hoping that a chap who DM's for me will see the logic and fairness in this proposal, in order to help out my fighter whose HD so far have been 10, 5, 3, 1.... lots of not-fun there I can tell you!

Cheers

 

[Centaur]

We use the following system. Depending on your HD, you can re-roll certain results as often as required untill you get something that fits within the acceptable range.

HD / Re-roll on:
===============
D4 / Re-roll all 1s
D6 / Re-roll 1s & 2s
D8 / Re-roll 1-3
D10 / Re-roll 1-4
D12 / Re-roll 1-5

 

[RedShirtNo5]

My group has used exactly that rule for at least 5 years and it's my personal favorite. We like it for exactly the reasons you suggest; it prevents the disappointment of rolling a 1 without significantly increasing average hp. Also, of the various methods we've looked at, it has about the lowest impact on the ratio of average hp between the classes.

Intellectually I know it's chance, but some players really do seem to have consistently bad luck when rolling hp, even over years of gaming.

Other methods that we've tried at one time or another (back in our 1E/2E days):
-reroll 1s (actually favors wizards over fighters)
-reroll based on HD as suggested by Centaur
-option to reroll, but you must take the reroll
-if you normally get dx for HD, then instead you get d4 + (x-4)

-RedShirt

 

[Hardhead]

Here's what we do: Instead of rolling your class's prescribed HD, you may choose to "graduate down" and roll a lower die. Each time you do this, you get a +1 HP.

So, a fighter could roll:

1d10
1d8+1
1d6+2
1d4+3
1d2+4

Notice that the average HP is exactly the same for them all. Basically, it let's you make sure you don't roll low, but you can't roll high either. Generally, I've found that most people like to gradutate down a few die sizes to make sure they don't get a one, though one player never does.

 

[T-Bone]

My system that I'v eused since 3e came out.

1st level = Maximum possible roll
2nd Lvl = 1 roll OR take 1/2 max possible roll
3rd Lvl = 1 roll OR take (1/2 max possible roll) +1
4th Lvl = 1 roll OR take 1/2 max possible roll
5th Lvl = 1 roll OR take (1/2 max possible roll) +1
etc.

You choose to roll, you take what you get, even a one.
You want to play it safe, you take half on even levels, or half +1 on odd levles.

A Wizard should pretty much always take the half+1 on odd levles, since this would give him 3 out of a possible 4.

Most players take the half+1 on odd levels (not all though), and it's about 50/50 on even levels wether they roll or not. I think it depends on how they rolled last time.

 

[juliaromero]

I use what I call the four-four system (which I also use for monsters).

Normal Die Adjusted roll
---------- ------------
1d4 1d4
1d6 1d4+2
1d8 1d4+4
1d10 1d6+4
1d12 1d8+4


This tends to make the players much happier, enhances the differences between the classes with differend hit dice (it was lame having a 10th level Barbarian who rolled all 1's have less hit poitns than a low level wizard who rolled all 4's), and since i use it for bad guys too it's not unbalancing. Makes comabat last a bit longer though, but everyone seems to like that aspect too.

 

[KarinsDad]

Normal Die Adjusted roll
---------- ------------
1d4 1d4
1d6 1d4+2
1d8 1d4+4
1d10 1d6+4
1d12 1d8+4

I'm not too keen on this system since it overemphasizes the roll of combatant types. Combatant types already get more hit points, this system adds even more for them.

D4 - you don't get squat over core, lowest roll one
D6 - you average one more hit point, lowest roll three
D8 through D12 - you average two more hit points, lowest roll five

If you are going to come up with a system, come up with one that is helpful to all classes, not just some classes.

For example (if you do not like any of the systems suggested so far):

Normal Die Adjusted roll
---------- ------------
D4 2D2
D6 2D3
D8 2D4
D10 2D5
D12 2D6

Everyone's average hit points increase by 0.5 hit point and the lowest roll is a 2. Additionally, the chances of rolling a 2 for each are:

D4 - 25%
D6 - 11%
D8 - 6%
D10 - 4%
D12 - 3%

Everyone wins and some classes do not get an effective Con bonus (with regard to hit points) of +2 or +4 while other classes do not.

 

[Goddess FallenAngel]

My gaming group uses this simple system and has for years:

Roll HD - you get at least average on the die (round up). For example, I am playing a wizard. I roll my d4 and get a 1. Average on the die is 2.5, rounded up = 3. So I get 3 HP even though I only rolled a 1.

It hasn't unbalanced the game any, and has resulted in much happier players. The DM also uses this method for NPCs and elite monsters.

 

[Hardhead]

I'm not too keen on this system since it overemphasizes the roll of combatant types. Combatant types already get more hit points, this system adds even more for them.

D4 - you don't get squat over core, lowest roll one
D6 - you average one more hit point, lowest roll three
D8 through D12 - you average two more hit points, lowest roll five

I agree, I don't like this system at all. It just shafts wizards and sorcerers even more on the hp front.

 

[juliaromero]

If you are going to come up with a system, come up with one that is helpful to all classes, not just some classes.

I appologize if my HP system has somehow offended you. Our group is quite happy with it, and we will continue to you use it. I just posted it as a suggestion since we like it, I don't really care if anyone else uses it or likes it. My mistake for trying to be helpful.