D&D 5E When Monsters and NPCs take a Short Rest

[fanboy2000]

How many HD can they spend to heal? I see several likely answers:

Zero, because monsters can't spend HD the way PCs can.

Up to all their HD as listed in their statblock, but can't go higher than the HP listed in the statblcok.

Up to all their HD as listed in their statblock, but can go higher than the HP listed in the statblock.

Up to their CR in HD.

What do you think?

 

[Hrothgar Rannúlfr]

My answer would be, "Up to all their HD as listed in their statblock, but can't go higher than the HP listed in the statblock."

 

[Paraxis]

How many HD can they spend to heal? I see several likely answers:

Zero, because monsters can't spend HD the way PCs can.

This is the way I would handle it, npc's heal at whatever rate I want them to as a DM, I can't see wounded animals and townsfolk getting back full hp after a short or extended rest.

Up to all their HD as listed in their statblock, but can't go higher than the HP listed in the statblcok.

Sure this is a good by the book way to handle it, if you want consistency between npc's and pc's I can see this.

Up to all their HD as listed in their statblock, but can go higher than the HP listed in the statblock.

This makes no sense to me, the hp in the stat block is an average so you have a good starting point for the creatures max h.p, the npc's if allowed to heal should never go past what their max hp is.

Up to their CR in HD.

Again makes no sense to me, CR does not = level.

What do you think?

See above.

 

[Jaelommiss]

I'm not sure if there are any written rules on it, but I would lean towards the second choice. The only exception would be if I had rolled for HP before introducing the monster/NPC. In that case I would allow healing up to that rolled amount, though that would only really happen for important NPCs and bosses in my games. Certain opponents, such as undead or beasts I might not allow to heal at all.


Just using CR would be unreliable (in my opinion) because of the massive variance in the HD to CR ratio. For example, the Kuo-toa Whip has 10d8+20 at a CR of 1, while the Specter only has 5d8 at CR 1. Only being allowed to restore 1d8 would be significantly less for the Kuo-toa than it would for the Specter.

To illustrate that this isn't a one time case, let me list a few other monsters:
Solar - 18d10+144, CR 21 (18/21)
Purple Worm - 15d20+90, CR 15 (15/15)
Djinni - 14d10+84, CR 11 (14/11)
Oni - 13d10+39, CR 7 (13/7)
Banshee - 13d8, CR 4 (13/4)
Bugbear - 5d8+5, CR 1 (5/1)

I did notice an overall trend towards a 1:1 ratio at higher CR monsters, so it might work better at higher levels.

 

[Uder]

Up to all their HD as listed in their statblock, but can't go higher than the HP listed in the statblcok.

I think I prefer this way, with the caveat that they can go up to their max hit points. The number listed in the MM is the average. IMO not all monsters should have average hit points unless all PCs do.

 

[Grazzt]

How many HD can they spend to heal? I see several likely answers:

Zero, because monsters can't spend HD the way PCs can.

Up to all their HD as listed in their statblock, but can't go higher than the HP listed in the statblcok.

Up to all their HD as listed in their statblock, but can go higher than the HP listed in the statblock.

Up to their CR in HD.

What do you think?

As DM, the monsters/NPCs heal as much as I decide they heal. They don't play by the same rules the PCs do (like they did in 3.x).

 

[Li Shenron]

Up to all their HD as listed in their statblock, but can't go higher than the HP listed in the statblcok.

Definitely this i.e. use the same rules as characters.

 

[Li Shenron]

I think I prefer this way, with the caveat that they can go up to their max hit points. The number listed in the MM is the average. IMO not all monsters should have average hit points unless all PCs do.

I think he meant the statblock of the specific individual, which is not necessarily the same as the one in the MM

 

[TerraDave]

Just be sure to have them do something.

It was pretty quick into 4E that my players started hit and run tactics. Which is fine. But you have to do something on your side of the screen.

With the 1 hour, you can go beyond healing and power recovery (or spell recovery for certain casters). Its enough time for the monsters/npcs to regroup, reinforce...

And of course track down and counter attack the PC. Or, maybe best of all...

Set up an ambush.

 

[GX.Sigma]

Same rules as PCs. Except for undead or constructs, I guess.