Starting Hit Points

[Golem2176]

I am going to be starting a new campaign sonn and I just wanted feed back on the following possibility: All first level characters start with an amount of hit points equal to their maximum possible for their hit die and add their constitution score and constitution modifier. The campaign I will be running is going to be quite stronger than standard. It is going to set in the outer planes. Not exactly sure where in the outer planes though.

 

[Coredump]

Let me get this straight. A Fighter with 16 Con will have 29 hps at first level?

First, I agree that first (second?) level characters are fragile, with a big gun. Often they can lay out a lot of damage, but can die very easily. So I could agree with upping their HPs a bit. But I think upping it this much may be a mistake.

Picture the Mage with the 12 Con, goes from 5 to 17 hps. I could see maybe doubling their hit die points (fighter gets 20, mage 8, etc.) Or perhaps letting them roll for additional hps. (fighter 10 + D10, mage 4 + D4); but I think adding 10-18 HPs may be a bit too much help.

.

 

[NeuroZombie]

If you need the PC's to be a bit tougher, then I say go for it! It will be a bit unbalanced of course, if you care for the almighty god of D20: Balance.

In your shoes, I would just let the PC's start at 2nd or 3rd level instead. This gives them a fighting chance in the planes, without any unbalance to it. My 2cents

 

[Sertimon]

Well ... it depends. Does all the monsters receive the same benefit? Otherwise, low-level encounters will seem trivial and not particularly dangerous. Personally, I would just let the PCs begin at a higher level, otherwise it will be hard to calculate Encounter Levels for monsters etc. Just my two cents.

 

[wocky]

Low hit points at low levels represent the fact that most common people die (or start "dying") with a somewhat well placed strike of mostly any weapon. Low level characters are not yet different enough from ordinary people, and it's nice to play it like that.

If you don't want to make them start at level 2 you could give them all the Toughness feat for free (either the 3 hp or a 5 hp version) which should allow them to take one extra average hit before entering the slow descent to deathland.

But 10 hp (based on an average CON attribute) is just too much.

 

[Golem2176]

Okay, as per the arguments I'm hearing, this is way too much. How about double maximum starting hit points plus con bonus? Alternatively I could give every character maximum starting hit points, plus their con bonus times three, in this case each character would start with a minimum con of 12 and roll d6. A roll of 5 or 6 warrants a second roll. The second roll would be added to the base Con score. Thoughts?

 

[Roman]

How about using the VP/WP system? This would give them an advantage at the lower levels, but would be disadvantageous at higher ones.

 

[Golem2176]

How about using the VP/WP system? This would give them an advantage at the lower levels, but would be disadvantageous at higher ones.

Not too fond of this system.

 

[Nifft]

I like to start my PCs out with extra "Racial HP", which obviously depend on their race:

Gnomes: 2 hp (note: this is a custom Tiny version)
Halflings: 4 hp
Elves: 6 hp
Humans, Dwarves, Half-Elves: 8 hp
Half-Orcs, Aasimar, Tieflings: 10 hp

-- N

 

[Scion]

Is there any reason you cant just start them at a slightly higher level?

How about giving everyone the toughness feat for free twice at level 1?

How about giving everyone their choice of an npc class (or make a list of whichever ones you think will work) then they will get a few extra skill points, more hp, and be more rounded. Whenever you work up how tough they should be they wont be 'much' tougher than normal characters of their level.

Failing all of that Just giving everyone a straight +# probably works better, or starting HD +2xcon mod +#. To give everyone more but keep the lower hd's inherantly weaker than the higher hd.