D&D 5E Spending HP to do cool stuff - a brainstorm thread

[TheSword]

One thing to keep in mind is that in D&D, spending hit points really means spending the healer’s spell slots. The Dark Souls RPG gets around this by giving you a bunch of free temp “HP” at the beginning of each combat; healing spells can’t restore that temp HP, nor do you save on healing spells by not using them.

I think lots of groups in 5e don’t run with a healer now. D&D beyond has 8% clerics at 8% which is probably enough for 1 per 2-3 parties.

If they have a healer it’s likely a secondary healer, who has a lot of competition for those spell slots. The primary mechanic for healing in 5e is the short rest which is delivering the bulk of healing. So HD do matter when the option of long resting doesn’t makes them pointless.

 

[dave2008]

I once suggested that Battlemaster maneuvers be opened up to any character D&D 5E - Battle Master maneuvers for any class by spending a HD It’s a similar though more powerful affect.

I think the issue with spending HD rather than spending HP is that it adds no spice to the combat because actually it doesn’t change the risk profile of that combat (it prevents future combat healing) if the DM allows sufficient short rests and runs long encounter days (otherwise long rests cheapen it).

In a game where a long rest requires a safe haven like in AIME or Dark Souls 5e then it might work, and therefore those HD actually mean something. AIME did have feats that allowed you to spend HD, I recal an elf feat that let you shoot an arrow that automatically critted by spending a HD.

The advantage of spending Hp as @BookTenTiger suggests is that it makes the decision a tough one that affects that point in time. Do you exert yourself and leave yourself vulnerable now for a one off benefit. It’s classic expediency - tempting but risky.

I hear what people are saying about casters I would have it affect spell attack rolls and spell damage but not DCs.

We allow spending HD to do things in our games; however, we also require a HD be spent any time you heal even if it is magical. So HD does become a resource that you need to track and be aware. Yes, spending HD doesn't typically have an immediate combat effect, but it definitely has an effect on the next combat.