Low level HP fix with a twist - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Low level HP fix with a twist

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Nathreet
May 03, 2008 22:11:48 This is to fix the level 1 NPC/PC easy death thing, and to add a hair of realism to HP.

Okay, basically you add X HP to all creatures, perhaps 10HP. Ya, ya, been done before. Here's the twist: Any creature with 0 to X HP is disabled. Per normal rules you are disabled when you have exactly 0 HP. Now the range is extended.

Standard 3.5 Disabled Rules

SRD wrote:
#2
zeratulcraft
May 04, 2008 5:20:14 So essentially it looks like you're giving everyone the Diehard feat for free. Or do they still get the -1 to -9 threshold too?
#3
Nathreet
May 04, 2008 9:40:14 -1 to -9 is still dying, or it's disabled if you have the diehard feat.
#4
patrick_draken-korin
May 04, 2008 13:18:55 I like this. Maybe something like 1 per size category (1 at fine, 5 at medium, 9 at colossal) + Constitution modifier. Apply a minimum of 0 (these weak creatures only become disabled at 0 hp), where as others gain a breathing space.

What about non-living creature? You could either keep them the same, or apply the bonus hit points; now non-living creatures become disabled (as their bodies break apart) at the low point, though they are still destroyed at 0 hit points. Or maybe they could become inert (ala the warforged) at this low point where they could be salvaged and repaired. Eh, whatever.
#5
ivellius
May 04, 2008 14:06:28 This is simple enough that I like it. It could really work.

As a suggestion, what if you made it dependent on the creature's Constitution score? I.e., a normal human would get a bonus of 10 hp and be disabled within that range.

Hmm...I think I may introduce that idea to my group. Sadly, they're not as interested in house-ruling as I am.
#6
Nathreet
May 04, 2008 18:57:05 Glad you guys like it. I like the idea of adding con to this HP. In fact originally I was thinking of making this extra HD, but then I thought that would be too complicated. But I'm debating w/ myself about adding con b/c the 9 "dying" HP doesn't get any con bonus. Hmm... really I don't think it'd be too bad either way. If everyone likes adding con then I may do the same for the sake of popularity.

For non-living creatures I could see it as the creature falling apart - undead missing parts and/or guts spilling out, constructs with pieces broken off, inevitables with gears popping out, etc. Really it could go either way for them, but to keep things balanced I'd say it should be applied to non-living creatures too.
#7
killy
May 05, 2008 19:33:21 I'm already using the extra HP houserule, a year ago I implemented it in a high level game, didn't affect the game one bit, and then used it in a low level game (starting at third level), it worked freaking great.

The disabled idea sounds ok, but it goes against the reason why I implemented the house rule in the first place, it was to make low level characters more heroic... with this they will go disabled the whole dungeon.

Extra hit points:
All characters, NPCs and monsters has 10 extra hit points, for every size category above medium they add 2 hit points to this bonus, for every size category below medium rest 2 hit points to this bonus. If the creature changes its size category by any effect, this extra hit points changes as well accordingly. First level hit die is NOT maximized.
#8
OneWinged4ngel
May 05, 2008 21:11:19
This is to fix the level 1 NPC/PC easy death thing, and to add a hair of realism to HP.

Okay, basically you add X HP to all creatures, perhaps 10HP. Ya, ya, been done before. Here's the twist: Any creature with 0 to X HP is disabled. Per normal rules you are disabled when you have exactly 0 HP. Now the range is extended.

Standard 3.5 Disabled Rules

#9
khosatralkhel
May 08, 2008 15:08:37 Had this idea today and failed to properly check no one else had thought of it.

["original"]
While contemplating the beserker strength variant from PHII, I kinda got this idea stuck in my head. Who has ever really encountered the Disabled condition (0 hp)? Zero is just too small a target to appreciate this condition.

[None of this is tested, just conjecture]

My first thought was to make 5 more hps that would could as "0". These 5 hp would be considered negative to avoid any strange misuse I haven't thought of yet but -1 to -5 ought to still roll for stablize to reflect that you're still on your way to death. Boost the chance of stable to 20% for this special disabled condition since you're still closer to surviving than the dying condition (newly moved to -6 to -15). Strenous actions would still cause 1 damage making a possibility of losing 2 hp in a round. Resolve dying as usual.

Couple variations I'm thinking about instead of a fixed 5 hps, instead roll whatever the disabled uses for a hitdie and add con to determine the disable condition hitpoints. Roll whenever you go below 0 hps. Shouldn't a barbarian be able to stumble about near-death longer than a wizard?

In closing, should healing ignore virtual hps and just consider them the innate resistance to death possessed by anyone? (Monsters of the non-undead/construct variety benefit this improved disabled condition).
[end]

I see a lot of these ideas scattered in this thread and some real gems I wish I had thought of. Hrmm, how to work size in.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Nathreet May 03, 2008 22:11:48	This is to fix the level 1 NPC/PC easy death thing, and to add a hair of realism to HP. Okay, basically you add X HP to all creatures, perhaps 10HP. Ya, ya, been done before. Here's the twist: Any creature with 0 to X HP is disabled. Per normal rules you are disabled when you have exactly 0 HP. Now the range is extended. Standard 3.5 Disabled Rules SRD wrote:
#2 zeratulcraft May 04, 2008 5:20:14	So essentially it looks like you're giving everyone the Diehard feat for free. Or do they still get the -1 to -9 threshold too?
#3 Nathreet May 04, 2008 9:40:14	-1 to -9 is still dying, or it's disabled if you have the diehard feat.
#4 patrick_draken-korin May 04, 2008 13:18:55	I like this. Maybe something like 1 per size category (1 at fine, 5 at medium, 9 at colossal) + Constitution modifier. Apply a minimum of 0 (these weak creatures only become disabled at 0 hp), where as others gain a breathing space. What about non-living creature? You could either keep them the same, or apply the bonus hit points; now non-living creatures become disabled (as their bodies break apart) at the low point, though they are still destroyed at 0 hit points. Or maybe they could become inert (ala the warforged) at this low point where they could be salvaged and repaired. Eh, whatever.
#5 ivellius May 04, 2008 14:06:28	This is simple enough that I like it. It could really work. As a suggestion, what if you made it dependent on the creature's Constitution score? I.e., a normal human would get a bonus of 10 hp and be disabled within that range. Hmm...I think I may introduce that idea to my group. Sadly, they're not as interested in house-ruling as I am.
#6 Nathreet May 04, 2008 18:57:05	Glad you guys like it. I like the idea of adding con to this HP. In fact originally I was thinking of making this extra HD, but then I thought that would be too complicated. But I'm debating w/ myself about adding con b/c the 9 "dying" HP doesn't get any con bonus. Hmm... really I don't think it'd be too bad either way. If everyone likes adding con then I may do the same for the sake of popularity. For non-living creatures I could see it as the creature falling apart - undead missing parts and/or guts spilling out, constructs with pieces broken off, inevitables with gears popping out, etc. Really it could go either way for them, but to keep things balanced I'd say it should be applied to non-living creatures too.
#7 killy May 05, 2008 19:33:21	I'm already using the extra HP houserule, a year ago I implemented it in a high level game, didn't affect the game one bit, and then used it in a low level game (starting at third level), it worked freaking great. The disabled idea sounds ok, but it goes against the reason why I implemented the house rule in the first place, it was to make low level characters more heroic... with this they will go disabled the whole dungeon. Extra hit points: All characters, NPCs and monsters has 10 extra hit points, for every size category above medium they add 2 hit points to this bonus, for every size category below medium rest 2 hit points to this bonus. If the creature changes its size category by any effect, this extra hit points changes as well accordingly. First level hit die is NOT maximized.
#8 OneWinged4ngel May 05, 2008 21:11:19	This is to fix the level 1 NPC/PC easy death thing, and to add a hair of realism to HP. Okay, basically you add X HP to all creatures, perhaps 10HP. Ya, ya, been done before. Here's the twist: Any creature with 0 to X HP is disabled. Per normal rules you are disabled when you have exactly 0 HP. Now the range is extended. Standard 3.5 Disabled Rules
#9 khosatralkhel May 08, 2008 15:08:37	Had this idea today and failed to properly check no one else had thought of it. ["original"] While contemplating the beserker strength variant from PHII, I kinda got this idea stuck in my head. Who has ever really encountered the Disabled condition (0 hp)? Zero is just too small a target to appreciate this condition. [None of this is tested, just conjecture] My first thought was to make 5 more hps that would could as "0". These 5 hp would be considered negative to avoid any strange misuse I haven't thought of yet but -1 to -5 ought to still roll for stablize to reflect that you're still on your way to death. Boost the chance of stable to 20% for this special disabled condition since you're still closer to surviving than the dying condition (newly moved to -6 to -15). Strenous actions would still cause 1 damage making a possibility of losing 2 hp in a round. Resolve dying as usual. Couple variations I'm thinking about instead of a fixed 5 hps, instead roll whatever the disabled uses for a hitdie and add con to determine the disable condition hitpoints. Roll whenever you go below 0 hps. Shouldn't a barbarian be able to stumble about near-death longer than a wizard? In closing, should healing ignore virtual hps and just consider them the innate resistance to death possessed by anyone? (Monsters of the non-undead/construct variety benefit this improved disabled condition). [end] I see a lot of these ideas scattered in this thread and some real gems I wish I had thought of. Hrmm, how to work size in.