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

[JiffyPopTart]

I guess this shows the different mindset of different types of gamers. Just about everyone I have ever played with comes to D&D with a blank slate when it comes to character creation. You roll the dice, see what stats you get, and then you decide on what sort of character you are going to play. That has been the case for 28 years. Only recently, and really only from what I have read here, do I find D&D players who come to the character creation process with a fully formed character idea/design.

That would be your view of how gamers are. I have been playing since barely understanding the rules in 3rd grade (1982) with BASIC D&D and have always come to the table with a desire to play a certain character rather than just taking what fate hands me. I have even run games where I let the players assign their stats as they saw fit (not even point buy, just free form) and it worked out fine.

DS

 

[howandwhy99]

Randomness in character design is supposed to spur your imagination, isn't it? If everything is so tightly nailed down that 1hp more or less ruins a game, then maybe there is a problem with the system?

I think 4e will have random HPs and they will actually help it rather than hurt it.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

Randomness in character design is supposed to spur your imagination, isn't it? If everything is so tightly nailed down that 1hp more or less ruins a game, then maybe there is a problem with the system?

1 HP wouldn't be a big deal, but it is not unlikely for a character (paticuarly one with a larger hit dice) to get unlucky multiple multiple poor rolls over the course of a few levels. This can add up to dozens of hit points less than average by level 20 in some cases.

In any case it won't be hard to house rule rolling HP or gaining some fixed value every level.

 

[howandwhy99]

In any case it won't be hard to house rule rolling HP or gaining some fixed value every level.

I agree with this. Present multiple options. Options on top of options. It's actually one of the few ways to keep gaming flexible and be economically lucrative.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Part of the problem is that I don't want players to be able to look at an opponent and guess, with any degree of accuracy, how many HP he/she/it has. And trust me, I play with enough people who practically memorize the MM that this is a potential issue.

But since monsters and players aren't using the same rules...

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Randomness in character design is supposed to spur your imagination, isn't it?

It might. But then again, it can restrict it.

If everything is so tightly nailed down that 1hp more or less ruins a game, then maybe there is a problem with the system?

We're not talking about one hp. We're talking about a lot more than that. The difference between a fighter 3 that rolled two 1s and one that rolled average is 9 points. That's 3 points per level - and this includes 1st level, which isn't rolled.

Say you have two fighter 10 (con 10 for simplicity), one gets the average 5.5 per roll (except 1st) for 59 HP, the other one has lots of bad luck and rolls 2.5 on average (1s, 2s, 3s mostly) for 32 HP. That's A difference of 27 HP.

I think 4e will have random HPs and they will actually help it rather than hurt it.

In my opinion random HPs can't really help a game. They might have no impact, but I can't think of a positive impact.

 

[Man in the Funny Hat]

Randomness in character design is supposed to spur your imagination, isn't it? If everything is so tightly nailed down that 1hp more or less ruins a game, then maybe there is a problem with the system?

This would be a problem with the PLAYER, not the system. If the players character doesn't work unless EVERYTHING is JUST RIGHT, he's not going to have fun at most game tables because that state of perfection at character generation won't last long once the dice start flying. We don't just compare character sheets and declare a winner of the combat - characters STILL have to be run. Additionally the more specialized and delicate the assembly of the character the MORE likely it is for that character to be easily hamstrung.

 

[Man in the Funny Hat]

In my opinion random HPs can't really help a game. They might have no impact, but I can't think of a positive impact.

"Sometimes having a thing is not so pleasing as wanting a thing. It is not logical, but it is often true." - Spock

 

[sjmiller]

Here's my final thought on the subject of random hit points. If you don't like rolling for your hit points, then don't. Use the average, the maximum, or some other way of calculating. However, don't remove the option for those of us who do like it. If rolling dice for HP is presented as the default, at least you can derive some deterministic method of assigning them. If rolling for them is neither the default, nor an official alternative, then it's much harder to come up with a method to allow for it.

 

[Umbran]

I should note for the discussion as a whole - personal preference and what the game should have may well be different things.

Is there a solid argument why we can't have both? If not, then the point on personal preference is pretty moot - include both, and allow DMs to choose what is best for their game and group.