Post/Author/DateTime	Post
caralinda 07-13-06, 03:36 PM	I am new to D&D 3rd edition and when my character hit 4th level I increased my Con from 15 to 16 which gives a bonus change from +2 to +3. My GM told me that it only applies to my 4th level and any future level hit points. It does not add to the past levels hit points. Several friends told me that hit points are tied to con and if it goes up I should get the +1 for each previous levels too. If he is applying a house rule I have no problem with it but I would like to learn the "standard" way in case I join a different game or later GM a game. Do you know any reference that tells the "correct" way to handle a con change in regard to hit points and past levels? Thanks ;)
KirkBb 07-13-06, 03:42 PM	Your friends are right, and your GM is wrong, hit points go up retro-actively when you get a constitution boost. (Try asking your DM what his policy on con boosting magic items, it would be kind of wierd if you had it on for 2 levels, took it off, then put it back on and lost all that hp forever.)
TheVatican 07-13-06, 03:44 PM	A con increase is retroactive. You will get an increase in Hit points for all the levels you are, even the ones that you already completed. I believe intelligence, is the stat that does not increase skills for precious levels though. But for con, it is retroactive.
MerlintheTuna 07-13-06, 04:29 PM	If a character’s Constitution score changes enough to alter his or her Constitution modifier, the character’s hit points also increase or decrease accordingly. The character's hit points are described as changing, not just the rate at which they GAIN hit points. The barbarian's rage is also described specifically as granting +2 HP per HD due to the +4 Constitution the ability gives you. And Vatican is correct; increasing INT does not grant retroactive skill points. This is described on page 10 of the PHB, under changing ability scores.
Burpcycle 07-13-06, 04:31 PM	Hit points from Con are retroactive, skill points from Int are not.
caralinda 07-13-06, 05:15 PM	Thanks all! I am glad to know how the con increase works. It's only 3 HP for me at this point and if he does not change his mind, I have no problem with it as long as I know how it should work :)
Nom 07-13-06, 08:00 PM	Actually, changes to hit points due to Con are instantaneous, not retroactive. Retroactive means that it modifies something that has already happened. Although it might look like changing Con does this, it doesn't. Rather, it just changes your current hit point total. Generally, your fully-healed hit point total is "rolled hit points" + HD * Con bonus. If your Con bonus changes, so does the total. There are two special exceptions. (1) You always have at least 1 fully healed hp per HD, regardless of Con. (2) When rolling hp for a new level, you must always gain at least 1 hit point, regardless of Con. #2 is the interesting one, and proof of why Con and hp are not retroactive. Let's say I rolled a '1' at second level. My Con was 12 / +1, so I gain 2 hit points (total 9, since I'm using d6). Now, assume I'm poisoned and my Con drops to 8 / -1. My fully healed hit points drop to 7 - 2 = 5. 7 is 6 + 1, 2 = -1 * 2. If Con were retroactive, the roll of 1 would have to be recalculated since if my Con were -1 when it applied it would not have satisfied the 1 point gain minimum. But it's not retroactive, so the only condition that might apply is #1, and since my total fully-healed hp are greater than 2, it doesn't.
Dei 07-14-06, 03:36 AM	Or instead of posting a hundred formulae you could instead say this: 1) For every +1 bonus you get to CON add *your HD* to your hp. 2) If you loose CON you loose *your HD* of hp per 1 point of bonus lost. There, simple, no questions about retroactivity or anything. No need to make a mountain out of a mole-hill.
Dead_Karma 07-14-06, 10:56 AM	just had to say trying to understand noms post gave me a headache. :D
kelvinaw273 07-14-06, 01:38 PM	Yes, it is retroactive. You gain 1 hp per die if your bonus improves, regardless of the die already being cast.
Tormsskull 07-14-06, 03:18 PM	Actually, changes to hit points due to Con are instantaneous, not retroactive. Retroactive means that it modifies something that has already happened. Although it might look like changing Con does this, it doesn't. Rather, it just changes your current hit point total. Generally, your fully-healed hit point total is "rolled hit points" + HD * Con bonus. If your Con bonus changes, so does the total. There are two special exceptions. (1) You always have at least 1 fully healed hp per HD, regardless of Con. (2) When rolling hp for a new level, you must always gain at least 1 hit point, regardless of Con. #2 is the interesting one, and proof of why Con and hp are not retroactive. Let's say I rolled a '1' at second level. My Con was 12 / +1, so I gain 2 hit points (total 9, since I'm using d6). Now, assume I'm poisoned and my Con drops to 8 / -1. My fully healed hit points drop to 7 - 2 = 5. 7 is 6 + 1, 2 = -1 * 2. If Con were retroactive, the roll of 1 would have to be recalculated since if my Con were -1 when it applied it would not have satisfied the 1 point gain minimum. But it's not retroactive, so the only condition that might apply is #1, and since my total fully-healed hp are greater than 2, it doesn't. This is correct. Or instead of posting a hundred formulae you could instead say this: 1) For every +1 bonus you get to CON add *your HD* to your hp. 2) If you loose CON you loose *your HD* of hp per 1 point of bonus lost. There, simple, no questions about retroactivity or anything. No need to make a mountain out of a mole-hill. Also correct. I would have went even simpler and said "Your friends are correct."