Does it hurt to loose temporary hp? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Does it hurt to loose temporary hp? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
hovnarr
10-30-07, 11:14 AM Question: A PC has manifested Vigor, granting him 10 temporary hp. He then manifests Matter Agitation, maintaining concentration every round to fry an opponent. This opponent strikes him for 6 damage, reducing the temp hp to 4. Must he then make a concentration check to keep the power, or does his temporary hp effectively "shield" him from harm while they last?
Kouk
10-30-07, 11:20 AM This is about all it says about Temporary Hit Points on the SRD:
Temporary Hit Points

Certain effects give a character temporary hit points. When a character gains temporary hit points, note his current hit point total. When the temporary hit points go away the character’s hit points drop to his current hit point total. If the character’s hit points are below his current hit point total at that time, all the temporary hit points have already been lost and the character’s hit point total does not drop further.

When temporary hit points are lost, they cannot be restored as real hit points can be, even by magic.
Increases in Constitution Score and Current Hit Points

An increase in a character’s Constitution score, even a temporary one, can give her more hit points (an effective hit point increase), but these are not temporary hit points. They can be restored and they are not lost first as temporary hit points are.

I would say you do still need to make a Concentration check when you take damage, because it doesn't say the Temporary HP are any different except that they can't be healed and they are lost "first".

EDIT: Also, I don't believe that the rules mention that the reason you make a Concentration check is due to "pain" -- just "damage", which is still being taken even when you have Temporary Hit Points.

Otherwise, it wouldn't be that hard to make a minor magical item that inures the wearer to all forms of serious pain (but not all sensation) so that a spellcaster would never have to worry about that kind of Concentration check.

(OK, there is something similar called a Pain Band or something like that I think, but it only gives a bonus to Concentration checks).
hovnarr
10-30-07, 12:46 PM Thanks!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
hovnarr 10-30-07, 11:14 AM	Question: A PC has manifested Vigor, granting him 10 temporary hp. He then manifests Matter Agitation, maintaining concentration every round to fry an opponent. This opponent strikes him for 6 damage, reducing the temp hp to 4. Must he then make a concentration check to keep the power, or does his temporary hp effectively "shield" him from harm while they last?
Kouk 10-30-07, 11:20 AM	This is about all it says about Temporary Hit Points on the SRD: Temporary Hit Points Certain effects give a character temporary hit points. When a character gains temporary hit points, note his current hit point total. When the temporary hit points go away the character’s hit points drop to his current hit point total. If the character’s hit points are below his current hit point total at that time, all the temporary hit points have already been lost and the character’s hit point total does not drop further. When temporary hit points are lost, they cannot be restored as real hit points can be, even by magic. Increases in Constitution Score and Current Hit Points An increase in a character’s Constitution score, even a temporary one, can give her more hit points (an effective hit point increase), but these are not temporary hit points. They can be restored and they are not lost first as temporary hit points are. I would say you do still need to make a Concentration check when you take damage, because it doesn't say the Temporary HP are any different except that they can't be healed and they are lost "first". EDIT: Also, I don't believe that the rules mention that the reason you make a Concentration check is due to "pain" -- just "damage", which is still being taken even when you have Temporary Hit Points. Otherwise, it wouldn't be that hard to make a minor magical item that inures the wearer to all forms of serious pain (but not all sensation) so that a spellcaster would never have to worry about that kind of Concentration check. (OK, there is something similar called a Pain Band or something like that I think, but it only gives a bonus to Concentration checks).
hovnarr 10-30-07, 12:46 PM	Thanks!