Why would Picasso or Einstein have so many hit points?

[Arkhandus]

Einstein is a 3rd-level Smart Hero with 8 Str, 11 Dex, 8 Con, 18 Int, 13 Wis, 8 Cha, 8 hit points, the two Savant talents (+3 Knowledge - Physical Sciences and +3 Knowledge - Technology), the Educated feat (+2 Knowledge - Physical Sciences and +2 Knowledge - Technology), the Renown feat (+3 Reputation), and two Skill Focus feats (for both important Knowledge skills above). He has 6 ranks in both Knowledge skills, +4 Int, +3 Savant, +2 Educated, +2 Skill Focus: +17 on checks with Knowledge (Physical Sciences) and Knowledge (Technology).


Remember, with the way the rules are written, NPCs that don't partake in combat only progress slowly, gaining little bits of experience gradually. An old man is usually only around 3rd or 4th level, unless they're particularly active or adventurous.

 

[JimAde]

I don't think he'd even need that high a modifier for Technology. His most important work was theoretical, after all.

Gotta save those points for Perform(Violin) and Profession(Teaching)

 

[Henry]

Einstein is a 3rd-level Smart Hero with 8 Str, 11 Dex, 8 Con, 18 Int, 13 Wis, 8 Cha, 8 hit points, the two Savant talents (+3 Knowledge - Physical Sciences and +3 Knowledge - Technology), the Educated feat (+2 Knowledge - Physical Sciences and +2 Knowledge - Technology), the Renown feat (+3 Reputation), and two Skill Focus feats (for both important Knowledge skills above). He has 6 ranks in both Knowledge skills, +4 Int, +3 Savant, +2 Educated, +2 Skill Focus: +17 on checks with Knowledge (Physical Sciences) and Knowledge (Technology).

+18 on Knowledge (Physical Sci), because Skill Focus is +3, not +2, even in d20 modern.

I think Mallus made an excellent point, in assigning - if you want to get down to it, that's the easiest way, rather than asserting that Einstein was high-level or some such. But I still assert that Einstein did not need 20 ranks to be a good Physicist. And thanks for pulling those other bonuses out of Modern; I forgot all about them.

So my friend Ted, who has a doctorate in physics, and knows relativity and all that, and quantum mechanics, and string theory, and whatever else they have come up with yet that the Discovery Channel hasn't told me about, would logically know more than Einstein.

Wouldn't say that at all: He probably has the same or close level of Knowledge and Skill as Einstein; but the problems that Einstein faced were DC 30 Tasks; to your friend, with 50 years' knowledge and textbooks supporting him, these same tasks may be only DC 20. It's the same as a Climb check up a knotted rope being DC 5, and a climb up a wet wall is DC 20; different times and circumstances make a whole different picture...

Now, Ask Ted to come up with a Nobel Prize-winning theory that would make him famous within the community, and that WOULD be a DC 30 task...

 

[PeterMikelsons]

I used to fret about that problem, and decided the most elegant solution was, in short, to Rule 0 it. The way I look at level advancement, the benefits of going up a level are upper limits. Characters don't have to take all the benefits. PCs (and their NPC peers and foes) get all the benefits, because when they are not facing life-threatening challenges, they are training to beat the next set of life-threatening challenges. Not every NPC in the world is like that. If as a DM, I want a character who is a master of X, I'll make her whatever level is necessary for X, and then just assign every other level dependent thing (hit points, saves, extra feats, skills, etc.) to seem reasonable for a normal person of that species, age, caste, wealth, etc. Likewise, a player could decide, for roleplaying reasons probably, to pass up some benefits of level advancement if he thought his PC didn't deserve them; it is very unlikely though, I think.

Besides, if you go strictly by the rules, the only way for Einstein to learn physics (go up in levels) would have been to fight in WW I and get in street brawls (engage in encounters of sufficient level to gain experience points). If you need rules for "realistic" hit points for high level experts, don't forget to make rules for "realistic" level advancement.

 

[doghead]

I went with Ken Hood's grim and gritty. It works for me for a whole range of reason. But losing HP was the best of them.

Then I got rid of classes. Now Old Al don't need to take no bab if he don't want.

the head of the dog

 

[Gez]

And don't forget assistants! Be they lab assistants or anything else (sound technician for a singer, frex). Each assistant can give a +2 bonus to their master's skill checks with the "aid another" action.

 

[Celtavian]

re

Since hit points could be seen as combination of luck, skill, and toughness, you could institute a rule where certain NPC's receive a set amount of hit points. You could attribute this to the fact they don't actually engage in combat.

Say have a hit point table like the following:

Non-combat NPC: Never engages in combat. Book worm. 1 hp per level (Lowest possible roll).

Low combat NPC: Fights off occasional giant rat or dog. Works on farm. 2 hps per level

Moderate Combat NPC: Guard. Sometimes breaks up brawls. 4 hps per level (A medium amount for a Warrior and such).

You get the idea. Then 17th level Einstein with an average Con would have only 17 hit points, since he would most likely be a non-combat NPC. Easily killed by a fireball or a few hits from a moderately strong fighter.

Maybe create a feat like the following to account for Base Attack.

BRAINS OVER BRAWN [General]

Benefit: Upon taking this feat, you may choose each level to either receive a +1 Base Attack bonus or a +1 bonus on two Knowledge skills of your choice.

So a person would be giving up fighting ability for advanced knowledge skills. In Einsteins case, instead of having a +13 Base Attack at 17th level, he might choose to have a +2 Base Attack and a +11 Bonus on his Knowledge (Physics) and Knowledge (Mathematics) skills.

You could create an equivalent feat for entertainers, musicians, merchants, etc, etc.

 

[S'mon]

I find by far the best approach is to give PCs & NPCs skill ranks outside the XP/level system to reflect non-combat/non "adventure" life experience. So Einstein could have 10 ranks in Kno (Physics) and still be 1st level, or a PC who spends a year at sea gets a rank in Profession (Sailor).