D&D 5E Spending Hit Dice

[tomservo999]

Can someone explain to me the concept of "spending hit dice?" I see that you do so after a short rest, up to your maximum hit dice but I am confused. What is the effect of spending hit dice? If there is no effect, why would you not just always spend the max?

 

[Gilladian]

Hit dice heal you. A 2nd level fighter has 2d10 HD to spend to heal HP during a short rest. He can spend none, if he's unhurt, spend 1 to get up to 10 hp back, or if he's badly hurt, he may elect to spend both. However, he doesn't get those HD back until he takes a long rest, so he doesn't want to "waste" them, if he's only a little hurt.

 

[tomservo999]

Hit dice heal you. A 2nd level fighter has 2d10 HD to spend to heal HP during a short rest. He can spend none, if he's unhurt, spend 1 to get up to 10 hp back, or if he's badly hurt, he may elect to spend both. However, he doesn't get those HD back until he takes a long rest, so he doesn't want to "waste" them, if he's only a little hurt.

Ok...now I get it. I guess I was just assuming that you could only take one short rest a day...thus the confusion. Thanks!

 

[Paraxis]

And you only get half your max Hit Dice back when you take an extended rest.

 

[Piratecat]

Ok...now I get it. I guess I was just assuming that you could only take one short rest a day...thus the confusion. Thanks!

You can take as many short rests as you like (before your DM throws dice at you and tells you to stop being a wuss.) Each short rest is about an hour.

 

[pkt77242]

You can take as many short rests as you like (before your DM throws dice at you and tells you to stop being a wuss.) Each short rest is about an hour.

You are a nice DM, mine throws beer bottles.

 

[Boarstorm]

You are a nice DM, mine throws beer bottles.

Mine throws dragons!

OK, confession, I'm the DM.

 

[Anth]

Hit dice heal you. A 2nd level fighter has 2d10 HD to spend to heal HP during a short rest. He can spend none, if he's unhurt, spend 1 to get up to 10 hp back, or if he's badly hurt, he may elect to spend both. However, he doesn't get those HD back until he takes a long rest, so he doesn't want to "waste" them, if he's only a little hurt.

You gain your HD + your CON modifier up to your max hp. So a level 2 fighter with CON 14 can gain up to 2d10 + 4 hp. And a level 3 wizard with CON 9 can gain 3d6 - 3 hp.
And you only regain a number of HD equal to ½ your level (minimum 1) efter a long rest.