D&D 4E Should hit points continue to be generated randomly in 4e?

[Bloosquig]

I dislike totally random hp rolling. A roll x plus y type set up works or just max hit points every level. There are better ways to individualize a character then rolling poorly a couple times and becoming "X-box Bob the fighter who can't fight"

I guess if you really liked random hp you could make a feat that lets you roll twice every level and keep the high roll. Or maybe roll a die for every point of con modifier you have and keep the high roll.

 

[Nyaricus]

I answered Yes, ala Iron Heroes.

 

[JDJblatherings]

keep it random. Like someone up the thread said it's fun to roll dice every time your character gains a level.

 

[blargney the second]

Sacred oxtail soup.
-blarg

ps - I can't stand random character generation, but for one exception: the Three Dragon Ante stat system. It has the advantage of being random and the advantage of not screwing with individual power levels. Hit points just shouldn't be random.

 

[frankthedm]

Non random

Low average one level, High average next level.

 

[carmachu]

Honestly I don't see any good reason to keep random hit points. It can only hurt game balance. I guess the argument for it is so that "not every character is the same," but, if hit points are what you're using to differentiate characters something is wrong.

I'd say so. But random is still fine. Its amusing in our game that my dwarven cleric has the same(33hp) @ 3rd level, amount of HP's as the barbarian/fighter and slighly less than the mage, theif and bard combined.....

Granted means I can keep folks around longer......but its scary what can happen with random rolls....

 

[Gentlegamer]

I wouldn't mind seeing an optional rule for a "hit point development" skill that allows skill points to buy "ranks" of hit points, or something like that (similar to Rolemaster).

 

[Korgoth]

Everybody seems into non-random stats, hp and even substituting 2d10 for the D20 these days. So here's my innovation:

Diceless D&D, a.k.a. the T10 System (Take 10 System). No sacred cows allowed! Originally, I was going to say that instead of rolling for the base mechanic you just always take 10. But then I realized you can just reduce the DC of everything by 10 and have much more manageable numbers. Anything of DC 0 or less is automatic. Otherwise, compare your applicable Ranks and Modifiers to the DC. If you equal or exceed the DC, you succeed. Otherwise, you fail.

Combined with my proposed DD&DI (Diceless D&D Insider) you don't even have to bother adventuring. If you use DD&DI pre-loaded adventures, the DM can just click to select which characters are going to go on the adventure (these characters are accessed from friends' accounts). Once the module and characters are selected, the DM just clicks the "Adventure" button and the computer determines the outcome.

There's more! You can pre-enter your character build in the software so that it knows what feat choices you'll be making when you level up. This feature allows a group to play an entire Adventure Path series in only a few minutes.

For example:
DM: *clickityclickity* "OK, guys, I've got your characters all selected. Tonight we begin an excellent Adventure Trail series. You will be starting out in a small town and heading to a dungeon called The Sunless Fortress."
Rick: "Cool."
Mike: "Let's do it."
DM: *clicks on Adventure button*
DM: "OK, well after many adventures you confront the evil dragon Ashartalon, bent on returning from the netherworld to destroy the World of Greyfalcon, and you defeat him in a climactic battle. Congratulations, guys. You're all level 30 now!"
Larry: "Took long enough."
DM: "Yeah, well, anyway, your accounts have been updated with your characters. That was fun, guys. See you next week? I've got another cool Trail."
Dave: "Listen, man, that was fun and everything but I'm having a really hard time fitting in gaming time these days. It takes me 15 minutes to get to your house, and 15 to get home. Plus 5 minutes of gaming... that's like 35 minutes. That's a lot, man."
Rick: "Same here, buddy. My boss has been on my back about putting in a second overtime shift. I could use the dough."
Mike: "Man, let's just resolve the next Trail online, OK?"
DM: "OK. No problem. Just make sure to enter in your new characters."
Larry: "Actually, I'm using my same build as this time."
Rick: "Me too. Saves time."
Dave: "Same here."
Mike: "Yep."
DM: "OK. Well, then I guess I'll just email you guys the results. Don't, you know, be strangers."

 

[The Human Target]

We don't roll to see if characters get their other class features.

"Curses, my wizard rolled like crap on his magic ability again this level - now he's 6th level and only caster level 3." "No, those rolls for my Base Attack are totally legit. I know it averages to 1 per level, but I got lucky."

Exactly.

Hit points and ability scores should not be random.

If people think its more fun to do it the horrible way (ie randomly) then I'm sure you can come up with a variant rule for yourself.

 

[The Human Target]

keep it random. Like someone up the thread said it's fun to roll dice every time your character gains a level.

How much time is already devoted to random die rolling in the game?

A lot.

Is that one single roll per level so very fun that it outweighs all the pros for fixed character generation?

Rolling to kill a beholder= fun

Rolling to determine how likely it is for your character to die before he even enters combat= not fun