I've been thinking about it, and I don't see any reason for a D8 hit die. It doesn't really play a mechanical or balancing role in either classes, so when I run a campaign, I'm considering just giving Sorcerers and Wizards a D8 over a D6. Is this a stupid idea?
They are considerably more powerful than the other classes in many ways, especially Wizards. The smaller pool of hit points is for game balance purposes.
I've been thinking about it, and I don't see any reason for a D8 hit die. It doesn't really play a mechanical or balancing role in either classes, so when I run a campaign, I'm considering just giving Sorcerers and Wizards a D8 over a D6. Is this a stupid idea?
Before you make such a change, it's best to think about why it works the way it does and what you want to get out of the change. But first, I have to disagree with the argument that it doesn't have a mechanical or balancing role in either class because it does. Consider four hypothetical characters, each with a 14 CON, and using standard hit points per level. At fifth level, the Wizard will have 32 hp, the Cleric 38 hp, the Fighter 44 hp, and the Barbarian 50 hp. That's a clear mechanical difference, and also does work into balance as the Wizard's greater combat flexibility is somewhat offset by greater fragility.
Making this change will essentially mean that the Wizard becomes slightly more able to take a hit than under the standard rules and this will be more likely to act aggressively in combat. That's something you'll have to allow for when balancing combat encounters.
It's not a change I would make (I'm not particularly happy with the move to d6 from d4, but reverting it would be very much against the ethos of 5E), but it's your game and you should play it the way you and your players will have the most fun.
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I've been thinking about it, and I don't see any reason for a D8 hit die. It doesn't really play a mechanical or balancing role in either classes, so when I run a campaign, I'm considering just giving Sorcerers and Wizards a D8 over a D6. Is this a stupid idea?
They are considerably more powerful than the other classes in many ways, especially Wizards. The smaller pool of hit points is for game balance purposes.
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Casters have always been powerful characters. The reason for fewer hp is because of this.
They used to have a d4, upgrading to a d6 should be considered a bonus =)
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Before you make such a change, it's best to think about why it works the way it does and what you want to get out of the change. But first, I have to disagree with the argument that it doesn't have a mechanical or balancing role in either class because it does. Consider four hypothetical characters, each with a 14 CON, and using standard hit points per level. At fifth level, the Wizard will have 32 hp, the Cleric 38 hp, the Fighter 44 hp, and the Barbarian 50 hp. That's a clear mechanical difference, and also does work into balance as the Wizard's greater combat flexibility is somewhat offset by greater fragility.
Making this change will essentially mean that the Wizard becomes slightly more able to take a hit than under the standard rules and this will be more likely to act aggressively in combat. That's something you'll have to allow for when balancing combat encounters.
It's not a change I would make (I'm not particularly happy with the move to d6 from d4, but reverting it would be very much against the ethos of 5E), but it's your game and you should play it the way you and your players will have the most fun.