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

[Arashi Ravenblade]

real players roll Ability scores and hit points randomly. "Pre-set no possability of a sucky character" takes all of the excitment out of the game when you Know you wont get something bad ever. I had a player at level 7 with 28 hit points. He was a Elven Duskblade. He was a noob and didnt whine once even when some players had double or triple that!

 

[The Human Target]

real players roll Ability scores and hit points randomly. "Pre-set no possability of a sucky character" takes all of the excitment out of the game when you Know you wont get something bad ever. I had a player at level 7 with 28 hit points. He was a Elven Duskblade. He was a noob and didnt whine once even when some players had double or triple that!

Thats almost so silly I assume you're being sarcastic.

People wanting to play a "sucky character" should have the option and not have it forced upon them.

Nor does not having random starting character generation in the game remove the possibilities of bad things happening to a character.

 

[Aus_Snow]

real players roll Ability scores and hit points randomly. "Pre-set no possability of a sucky character" takes all of the excitment out of the game when you Know you wont get something bad ever.

If that was the sole source of excitement available in the game of D&D, I and the people I game with would've been doing something better with our time, for years now.

 

[blargney the second]

real players roll Ability scores and hit points randomly.

Is that a demonstrably false generalization I smell?
-blarg

 

[Ulorian - Agent of Chaos]

I prefer random. The game would start being too cookie-cutter if random hit points (and random ability scores) were taken out.

Not really, since damage is random.

 

[Jhaelen]

"Pre-set no possability of a sucky character" takes all of the excitment out of the game when you Know you wont get something bad ever.

You couldn't be more wrong. If a character is 'sucky' it should be because of the choices the player made for his character and not because of some random die roll.

 

[Falling Icicle]

I hate random hit points, always have. I hope this is one sacred cow that will be slaughtered in 4e.

 

[Baby Samurai]

You couldn't be more wrong. If a character is 'sucky' it should be because of the choices the player made for his character and not because of some random die roll.

I totally agree.

"Hey, Hal, bummer that you've rolled nothing above a 3 for your paladin's hp the last four levels."

 

[Jackelope King]

If random hit points must be kept (and I'd honestly like to see hit points die in favor of a toughness save or something, then go ala Iron Heroes, but rephrase it. Call the +1d4 "bonus hit points". That makes it seem like an extra that you don't need, but a little something more. Then even rolling a 1 seems decent and not "crippling".

Barbarians get 8 hit points per level, plus 1d4 bonus hit points.
Fighters get 6 hit points per level, plus 1d4 bonus hit points.
Clerics get 4 hit points per level, plus 1d4 bonus hit points.
Wizards get 2 hit points per level, plus 1d4 bonus hit points.

To be honest, I can't fathom how you'd need random hit points to distinguish between two characters in 3.Xe or later. Back in the day when that and ability scores were all there was between Bob's fighting-man and Jim's fighting-man? Sure. But now when Bob's fighter can be specialized in spring-attacking and crowd control with his spear while Jim's fighter is a heavier sword-and-board tank... I don't think that random hit points are really needed anymore.

 

[Jack99]

Same as Mouseferatu
1d12= 6+1d6
1d10= 4+1d6
1d8 = 2+1d6
1d6 = 2+1d4
1d4 = 2+1d2

Rolling a dice and hoping for "the max" is fun. Playing a crippled character is not fun.

wizards = 3.5 hp on average (2.5 normally)
rogues = 4.5 hp on average (3.5 normally)
clerics = 5.5 hp on average (4.5 normally)
fighters = 7.5 hp on average (5.5 normally)
barbarians = 9.5 hp on average (6.5 normally)

While you have lessened the range of possible hps, you also managed to favor some classes. On purpose?