Random and hidden Hit Point value on level up?

[Holy_Rage]

Hello all,

I would like to see what is the community's opinion on having a) random HP values when levelling up instead of the current max and b) hidden HP values when levelling up instead of the current visible. I would personally love to see both implemented, it would make PCs feel a bit less of a HP clone and would add a sense of randomness and excitement to each PC.

Thoughts?

[ethinos]

I feel like my characters never have enough hit points as is.

[Lucadia]

I think soon you have many pcs asking for relevels not getting the hp they wanted. Then you have deal with all the grandfathered pcs that do have max hp.

having a fighter roll a 1 on their hit die on a d10 is ..like saying their combat experience did not help them learn more endurance.

[YouLitABonfire]

I feel like my characters never have enough hit points as is.

+1

[APorg]

I think this would be very unpopular.

[Paragonville]

I think this would be very unpopular.

Yeah, it'd result in some people being either having extreme HP, or handicapped.

Edit: Engrish.  Totally not going to fix it, either!

[Crimson Shuriken]

Max hps along with the point buy system for ability scores pretty much have to be the way they are, else there is incentive to start over if the dice don't go your way.
Its a shame, but its the way it is.

[Soren / Zarathustra217]

Yeah, it's a valid concern, as otherwise, the only fair thing would have creatures also always max out their HP-to-HD.

Nonetheless, any such change would result in a lot of frustration and odd behaviour.

[Bluebomber4evr]

I think this would be very unpopular.

Understatement of the year.

[Holy_Rage]

Shelved!

[dutchy]

Permad be a better word then statement. Ppl would roll and roll and roll like they do on other servers to get max HP.   I would I'm that cheesy

[Bluebomber4evr]

Permad be a better word then statement. Ppl would roll and roll and roll like they do on other servers to get max HP.   I would I'm that cheesy

hell I used to do that in Icewind Dale and even the old SSI "gold box" games like Pool of Radiance.

[Badelaire]

Permad be a better word then statement. Ppl would roll and roll and roll like they do on other servers to get max HP.   I would I'm that cheesy

hell I used to do that in Icewind Dale and even the old SSI "gold box" games like Pool of Radiance.

Anyone who didn't is a bloody liar.

[dutchy]

 :lol:Hes a big fat phony. 
It's a family guy reference

[Holy_Rage]

If you put HP gained as non-visible, there is no way to know what you have rolled, making re-rolling useless. You only learn after accepting the level up.

[Soren / Zarathustra217]

If you put HP gained as non-visible, there is no way to know what you have rolled, making re-rolling useless. You only learn after accepting the level up.

But then you have people drop levels by death/respawn to get a new shot.

Plus, rolling that 1 or 2 just seems so bummer.

In my own private thoughts, I did at once consider to have PCs use the same scheme as NWN use for creature HP (think it's a constant 2/3 of max). But then I considered my own health.

[Bluebomber4evr]

You'd still be able to figure it out if you did the math unless you hid the total hp your character has, but hiding the hp total is not cool and not something I'd ever even consider doing.

[Crimson Shuriken]

The good thing about rolling for hit dice is that sneak attack and spell dice are their proper power level again.  With those abilities still rolling for dice, but hitpoints not rolling for total it has always been a unintentional nerfing of their impact in battle.

The bad thing is that battles are over quicker when dice go bad.

The good thing is that CON matters so much more as its the only stable source in the hp equation.

And, I don't think this fits neatly into good or bad by such a change: 

-Heal/Greater Restore/Mass Heal have much less utility. If people rolled for hps then Cure Critical would resolve most injuries, even to barbarians. This would free up those slots in 6-8 spell levels for other things so clerics are much more likely to have things like word of faith/destruction/blade barrier memorized rather than a second or third heal or restoration.

- You could go one step further and change toughness.   +1 hp/level is more powerful powerful than vanilla dnd where its a one time +3 hps but selectable multiple times.

[respawnaholic]

If you put HP gained as non-visible, there is no way to know what you have rolled, making re-rolling useless. You only learn after accepting the level up.

But then you have people drop levels by death/respawn to get a new shot.

Plus, rolling that 1 or 2 just seems so bummer.

In my own private thoughts, I did at once consider to have PCs use the same scheme as NWN use for creature HP (think it's a constant 2/3 of max). But then I considered my own health.

I think the old 2nd rule (it may have just been a widely used house rule) was no roll for a class less than half its total hit die so a fighter would always gain a minimum of 5hp, a cleric 4hps, a thief 3hps, etc., and I too am one of those that used to reroll the dice for things like that at each level up in Baldur's Gate or IWD unless it was within a point or two of max. For the old 2nd edition rules where everything was more or less based off random dice rolls it kinda made sense and helped add some more distinguishing traits to each character. One of the minor problems with Point Buy is it tends to make most classes pretty much cookie cutter in build if not name.

[Hatsune]

And would make for alot more enchanted gear on the server, for high levels. "Oops, bad HP's at 14, time to enchant something!"

[RedwizardD]

And would make for alot more enchanted gear on the server, for high levels. "Oops, bad HP's at 14, time to enchant something!"

That is sadly far more valid a point than it should be.