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<blockquote data-quote="Kobold Stew" data-source="post: 8490039" data-attributes="member: 23484">1. Because part of what is being abstracted is the ability to take a hit. That's why it is tied to class -- sorcerers haven't practiced taking a punch, etc., and barbarians have.2. You could do this, and it would reduce differentiation between characters. Many groups (a majority, I expect) play with standard hit points per level -- that also reduces variation, but acieves the aim of leting the fighty-guys withstand being hit better than non-fighty guys.3. Partly, legacy reasons; the game has constitution and wants it to do something. Partly, because while HP are abstracted, they are not independent of physical qualities. Constitution is the best ability to represent physical aspects of health that are being represented by HP. A case can be made for any of the abilities, but they (mostly) feed into the game in other ways. We know how Dex keeps you alive in the game: by helping you avoid being hit in the first place (Armor Class). Con reflects what happens after you are hit.4. Sure.5. &quot;Level&quot; is also abstract, so it becomes a matter of definitions. But you might want to look at how 3rd ed. incorporated both &quot;level adjustment&quot; and humanoid hit dice in their monstrous characters -- so a first level gnoll would have two &quot;levels&quot; of humanoid (no real abilities) and one level in Ranger (say) and functionally be a thirdlevel character, with three hit dice. Also in AD&amp;D Rangers started with 2d8, and gained a d8 after that.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Kobold Stew, post: 8490039, member: 23484"] 1. Because part of what is being abstracted is the ability to take a hit. That's why it is tied to class -- sorcerers haven't practiced taking a punch, etc., and barbarians have. 2. You could do this, and it would reduce differentiation between characters. Many groups (a majority, I expect) play with standard hit points per level -- that also reduces variation, but acieves the aim of leting the fighty-guys withstand being hit better than non-fighty guys. 3. Partly, legacy reasons; the game has constitution and wants it to do something. Partly, because while HP are abstracted, they are not independent of physical qualities. Constitution is the best ability to represent physical aspects of health that are being represented by HP. A case can be made for any of the abilities, but they (mostly) feed into the game in other ways. We know how Dex keeps you alive in the game: by helping you avoid being hit in the first place (Armor Class). Con reflects what happens after you are hit. 4. Sure. 5. "Level" is also abstract, so it becomes a matter of definitions. But you might want to look at how 3rd ed. incorporated both "level adjustment" and humanoid hit dice in their monstrous characters -- so a first level gnoll would have two "levels" of humanoid (no real abilities) and one level in Ranger (say) and functionally be a thirdlevel character, with three hit dice. Also in AD&D Rangers started with 2d8, and gained a d8 after that. [/QUOTE]

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