Alternate HP rules. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Alternate HP rules. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Talonz
10-21-05, 08:08 PM Here's what I do when pcs roll new hps for a new level; they can take what they roll, or take what I have rolled 'behind the screen'.

Overall, this results in slightly better hps than average because if they roll low, they can likely get something better from behind the screen, on average.

It ocurred to me that I likely shouldn't be doing both this and the 'max hps at first lvl' rule. Using both will result in some pretty high hps for the pcs.

Now I do often pad up major encounter hps for npc/monsters as well, but quite oftend don't bother. Would you do anything else in my place? Would you 'standardize' what you do for npc/monsters at all?

What hp variant rules do you use?
Centauri
10-21-05, 08:13 PM In my play-by-email games, my players don't know their own hit points.
prettyripples
10-21-05, 08:19 PM I think your HP variant is a good one.

It's not particularly balanced - especially for low HP characters, I can see this messing with d4s.

However, it's not at all OTT either, just a little extra padding, and I can see it being fun for the players (everyone likes some control).

For monsters, I either roll or eyeball (based on ave rolls).
agent of gurney
10-21-05, 08:25 PM Its actually not all that bad giving your pcs more HP, I have a player who always rolles a 10 or better for his barbarian so its entirely possible to end up with someone with high HP without this rule. I pickedu p a rule from my former DM that allows one to reroll their hit die during training. Its that you have to train for a # weeks equal to the level the low die roll occured, ie a 4th level ranger has rolled a 6 at 2nd level 3 at 3rd and 7 at 4th he can reroll the level 3 hit die if he committes himself to three weeks training. and if they roll a 2 their hit points do go donw but they can continue to train to reroll unlimited times.
strumbleduck
10-22-05, 01:29 AM It seems like a lot of folks give the PC's a few more hit points than the PHB recommends, just the same way that PC's used to get higher ability scores in older editions. (Ability scores used to be 3d6 per score, but everyone I knew used something better.)

Here's the math on your rule, assuming players use the best strategy (which is to choose the "behind the screen" roll whenever their roll is below average):

d4: 3 average (up from 2.5)
d6: 4.25 average (up from 3.5)
d8: 5.5 average (up from 4.5)
d10: 6.75 average (up from 5.5)
d12: 8 average (up from 6.5)

So your variant gives barbarians about 1.5 extra hit points/level, but only gives wizards about 0.5 extra hit points/level. Personally, I would prefer a system that helps wizards out a little more, especially if the goal is to prevent random character deaths.

In any case, I definitely wouldn't do away with the "max hit points at 1st level" rule. 1st level characters are fragile enough as it is.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Talonz 10-21-05, 08:08 PM	Here's what I do when pcs roll new hps for a new level; they can take what they roll, or take what I have rolled 'behind the screen'. Overall, this results in slightly better hps than average because if they roll low, they can likely get something better from behind the screen, on average. It ocurred to me that I likely shouldn't be doing both this and the 'max hps at first lvl' rule. Using both will result in some pretty high hps for the pcs. Now I do often pad up major encounter hps for npc/monsters as well, but quite oftend don't bother. Would you do anything else in my place? Would you 'standardize' what you do for npc/monsters at all? What hp variant rules do you use?
Centauri 10-21-05, 08:13 PM	In my play-by-email games, my players don't know their own hit points.
prettyripples 10-21-05, 08:19 PM	I think your HP variant is a good one. It's not particularly balanced - especially for low HP characters, I can see this messing with d4s. However, it's not at all OTT either, just a little extra padding, and I can see it being fun for the players (everyone likes some control). For monsters, I either roll or eyeball (based on ave rolls).
agent of gurney 10-21-05, 08:25 PM	Its actually not all that bad giving your pcs more HP, I have a player who always rolles a 10 or better for his barbarian so its entirely possible to end up with someone with high HP without this rule. I pickedu p a rule from my former DM that allows one to reroll their hit die during training. Its that you have to train for a # weeks equal to the level the low die roll occured, ie a 4th level ranger has rolled a 6 at 2nd level 3 at 3rd and 7 at 4th he can reroll the level 3 hit die if he committes himself to three weeks training. and if they roll a 2 their hit points do go donw but they can continue to train to reroll unlimited times.
strumbleduck 10-22-05, 01:29 AM	It seems like a lot of folks give the PC's a few more hit points than the PHB recommends, just the same way that PC's used to get higher ability scores in older editions. (Ability scores used to be 3d6 per score, but everyone I knew used something better.) Here's the math on your rule, assuming players use the best strategy (which is to choose the "behind the screen" roll whenever their roll is below average): d4: 3 average (up from 2.5) d6: 4.25 average (up from 3.5) d8: 5.5 average (up from 4.5) d10: 6.75 average (up from 5.5) d12: 8 average (up from 6.5) So your variant gives barbarians about 1.5 extra hit points/level, but only gives wizards about 0.5 extra hit points/level. Personally, I would prefer a system that helps wizards out a little more, especially if the goal is to prevent random character deaths. In any case, I definitely wouldn't do away with the "max hit points at 1st level" rule. 1st level characters are fragile enough as it is.