So a lot of my players who like the classic dice-rolling aspect of the game are frustrated that "taking the average" instead of rolling for hit points when you go up a level, as described in the PHB, gives you an average bonus of one hit point every two levels, AS WELL AS giving you the consistency you need to survive at low levels. (The average of 1d8 is 4.5, but if you "take the average" you get 5 every time.) We're thinking we still allow "taking the average," but you have to round down instead of up; thus, you get the consistency of 4 hit points or the chance of 1d8, so now rolling dice is favored. Thoughts?
So a lot of my players who like the classic dice-rolling aspect of the game are frustrated that "taking the average" instead of rolling for hit points when you go up a level, as described in the PHB, gives you an average bonus of one hit point every two levels, AS WELL AS giving you the consistency you need to survive at low levels.
Get new players 😝
You roll for HP if you're a gambling addict and think you'll get more HP that way, so it's only correct that people thinking that end up being wrong, as it's a valuable life lesson. The sensible people who actually want to play D&D just take the average every time because there's already plenty of randomness in the game, and you know deep down you'll roll 1 every time and end up with a 28 HP Bard at level 20 😉
Seriously though I don't think it's fair to respond by penalising people who don't want their levelling up to be random; if it matters to you that it's not balanced, and your players are actually using a mixture of the two methods, then just balance it by giving the rollers +1 HP every 2 levels so it works out same on average (in theory, they might still roll bad).
Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.
In our games we treat the average as minimum: you roll, and you either take the roll result or the average whichever is better. We do this because our fights 9/10 are Deadly level - we are seriously put through the paces. Even at level 20 with lots of magic items (including 2 legendary items each) , 3 epic boons each, and more bonuses - we still get near TPKs even being forced to flee. We need every hit point we can get to survive.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond. Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ thisFAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
Yeah just like with Sposta and cyber, my group also does the average hit point increase as the minimum. We still roll but we just can't get lower than "average" for similar reasons as cyber, my group is pretty combat heavy and do more deadly encounters than we probably should do per adventuring day.
Thanks for the ideas! For the record, I run about three Deadly encounters per day and my players still don't die very often, so I don't know that I need to power them up more.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Wizard (Gandalf) of the Tolkien Club
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
So a lot of my players who like the classic dice-rolling aspect of the game are frustrated that "taking the average" instead of rolling for hit points when you go up a level, as described in the PHB, gives you an average bonus of one hit point every two levels, AS WELL AS giving you the consistency you need to survive at low levels. (The average of 1d8 is 4.5, but if you "take the average" you get 5 every time.) We're thinking we still allow "taking the average," but you have to round down instead of up; thus, you get the consistency of 4 hit points or the chance of 1d8, so now rolling dice is favored. Thoughts?
Wizard (Gandalf) of the Tolkien Club
Get new players 😝
You roll for HP if you're a gambling addict and think you'll get more HP that way, so it's only correct that people thinking that end up being wrong, as it's a valuable life lesson. The sensible people who actually want to play D&D just take the average every time because there's already plenty of randomness in the game, and you know deep down you'll roll 1 every time and end up with a 28 HP Bard at level 20 😉
Seriously though I don't think it's fair to respond by penalising people who don't want their levelling up to be random; if it matters to you that it's not balanced, and your players are actually using a mixture of the two methods, then just balance it by giving the rollers +1 HP every 2 levels so it works out same on average (in theory, they might still roll bad).
Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.
I specifically want PCs in campaigns I DM to have high HP. I treat the flat number as their guaranteed minimum so that they roll but never get hosed.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
In our games we treat the average as minimum: you roll, and you either take the roll result or the average whichever is better. We do this because our fights 9/10 are Deadly level - we are seriously put through the paces. Even at level 20 with lots of magic items (including 2 legendary items each) , 3 epic boons each, and more bonuses - we still get near TPKs even being forced to flee. We need every hit point we can get to survive.
Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond.
Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ this FAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
Yeah just like with Sposta and cyber, my group also does the average hit point increase as the minimum. We still roll but we just can't get lower than "average" for similar reasons as cyber, my group is pretty combat heavy and do more deadly encounters than we probably should do per adventuring day.
My Homebrew | Background | Feats | Magic Items | Races | Spells | Subclass | Homebrewery
To see my more recent homebrew creations, please check out my content on Hombrewery.
Thanks for the ideas! For the record, I run about three Deadly encounters per day and my players still don't die very often, so I don't know that I need to power them up more.
Wizard (Gandalf) of the Tolkien Club