A'koss
Explorer
This is something I've gone back and forth on myself.
I do believe that commoners and low-level characters should have more hit points. How many, and the possible balance reprocussions for the other races is something that always makes me a little leary.
Some thoughts I've toyed with included having commoners have their Con score in HPs at first level, but further levels in the commoner class don't grant any more hit points, just feats (which could be used to gain Toughness), skill points and ability increases.
However, since commoners are not combat trained, any hit that inflicts real damage or when the commoner faces a visibly superior opponent (eg. an armored knight), the commoner must make a Will Save (DC 10) or become shaken for the duration of combat.
- If the commoner loses half his HPs (or if he faces an vastly superior opponent - eg. a giant) he must make a Will Save (DC 10) or become panicked.
- If a commoner loses half his HPs in one blow he must make a Fort Save (DC 10) or be disabled.
- Commoners in numbers help, gaining bonuses to save in groups or in the presence of strong allies. There is also a feat a commoner can take (Bravery) that negates these fear effects for them.
If a commoner picks up a fighting class later on, then you can gain more hit points, BAB increases and save increases and no longer suffers the fear and fainting effects.
PC classes gain their Con score in hit points in addition to their normal hit points at 1st level. Generic 1 HD monstrous humanoids just have their Con score in HPs but do not suffer the fear effects PC commoners do (they're more warlike).
Cheers,
A'koss.
I do believe that commoners and low-level characters should have more hit points. How many, and the possible balance reprocussions for the other races is something that always makes me a little leary.
Some thoughts I've toyed with included having commoners have their Con score in HPs at first level, but further levels in the commoner class don't grant any more hit points, just feats (which could be used to gain Toughness), skill points and ability increases.
However, since commoners are not combat trained, any hit that inflicts real damage or when the commoner faces a visibly superior opponent (eg. an armored knight), the commoner must make a Will Save (DC 10) or become shaken for the duration of combat.
- If the commoner loses half his HPs (or if he faces an vastly superior opponent - eg. a giant) he must make a Will Save (DC 10) or become panicked.
- If a commoner loses half his HPs in one blow he must make a Fort Save (DC 10) or be disabled.
- Commoners in numbers help, gaining bonuses to save in groups or in the presence of strong allies. There is also a feat a commoner can take (Bravery) that negates these fear effects for them.
If a commoner picks up a fighting class later on, then you can gain more hit points, BAB increases and save increases and no longer suffers the fear and fainting effects.
PC classes gain their Con score in hit points in addition to their normal hit points at 1st level. Generic 1 HD monstrous humanoids just have their Con score in HPs but do not suffer the fear effects PC commoners do (they're more warlike).
Cheers,
A'koss.
