|
In the Beta, there are several different methods proposed for generating starting hit points for 1st level characters. At that point, Jason and company said they had not yet settled on which method would be official.
Now that the PFRPG is finalized, it is probably safe to assume one method was arrived at as the default.
So ... any chance you guys could let us know what was decided?
I am working on a few things and I can't really continue without knowing. I know the book will be out in a few weeks, but can you please let us know ahead of time?
Pretty please???
Thanks!!!
The preview statblocks seem to indicate that there are no bonus hit points any more.
My guess is that any starting hit point adjustments would be optional (up to the DM's discretion), rather than core rules. I like the racial adjustments myself, and would houserule those in should they not be included in the official ruleset.
The preview statblocks seem to indicate that there are no bonus hit points any more.I'm not so sure, the early stat blocks seem to hint that it doesn't exist, but the last few have exactly 6 more hit points than they should have.
The stat blocks have all perfectly matched max hit-points at first level, with average hit-points after that, adjusted by Con, Toughness feat, and favored class bonus hit points (when not used for skill points).
To answer the OP - no one has "spilled the beans", but it quite looks like the official method (though not necessarily the only method) is to use max hit points from the first die plus normal modifiers, with no other bonus hp included.
I'm happy with that. My thinking is that if you don't want fragile characters, don't start at 1st level.
Not that it would have been hard for me to houserule bonus HP away, or for anyone else to houserule them back in.
I'm happy with that. My thinking is that if you don't want fragile characters, don't start at 1st level.
Not that it would have been hard for me to houserule bonus HP away, or for anyone else to houserule them back in.
Hmm.. well you could do the same rule as Toughness - you get all your hp at 1st level for levels 1-3, and don't gain any more until you hit 4th... :)
|
I dislike the maximized hit die at first level. I also disliked the x4 skill points at first level but at least those are gone now. It should make no difference for multiclass characters which level they took first. So in my group, instead of a maximized hit die characters get their constitution as a bonus on first level.
For me it really doesnt matter what method the Core Rulebook uses and unless you're playing in a Pathfinder Society game you should use whatever method you like the most.
Personally I'm sticking with max Class HD + CON score for 1st level PC's.
1/2 HD + CON Adjustment per level afterwards.
|
|
For me it really doesnt matter what method the Core Rulebook uses and unless you're playing in a Pathfinder Society game you should use whatever method you like the most.
Personally I'm sticking with max Class HD + CON score for 1st level PC's.
1/2 HD + CON Adjustment per level afterwards.
Oh, of course, I completely get that ... I think we all realize that individual groups can house rule a particular method if they want, regardless of what the official method ends up being.
As I said before, what I was looking for was not what various people might or might not house rule, or even which method individual people may personally prefer - I was specifically hoping to hear from someone at Paizo telling us what OFFICIAL method for generating first level hit points was decided on as the default method in the core rules.
Again, although it is certainly interesting to hear what various people might do in their home games ... I'm really looking for the official word from Paizo.
For me it really doesnt matter what method the Core Rulebook uses and unless you're playing in a Pathfinder Society game you should use whatever method you like the most.
Personally I'm sticking with max Class HD + CON score for 1st level PC's.
1/2 HD + CON Adjustment per level afterwards.
I've always been caught in a conumdrum. Who wants random hit points? Who wants to risk a low number? But just arbitrarily assigning a number feels a little like cheating. What to do?
You know what would be interesting? If there was a way to increase your hit points to full potential based on hit dice, attributes and racial bonuses.
Maybe it would be a temporary thing as a result of a feat or skill. Easier for fighters and barbarians natch.
Maybe a powerful magic item. Maybe a level up ability of some sort.
Creative Director
|
Again, although it is certainly interesting to hear what various people might do in their home games ... I'm really looking for the official word from Paizo.
This, like many other elements of the game, is probably not going to be revealed until the book releases in a few weeks at Gen Con.
I've always been caught in a conumdrum. Who wants random hit points? Who wants to risk a low number? But just arbitrarily assigning a number feels a little like cheating. What to do?
The arbitrarily assigned number really isn't though. Statistically if you take any die and roll it twenty times the average per roll will be 1/2 the dice size +.5 Since you can't have a .5 HP and some people being unable to comprend that you get 1/2 at odd levels and 1/2+1 at even levels and to slightly increase survivability the 1/2+1 option ends up giving you what you should average in twenty levels.
One of the best things a person can do to better understand the math behind RPG's is to take a probability and statistics class. (general statement non directional piece of advice).
There was a class in Arcanist that at twentieth level had the capstone power that all his hit dice were maximized.
This, like many other elements of the game, is probably not going to be revealed until the book releases in a few weeks at Gen Con.
Starting HP is really that big of a secret? I can't wait for the shocking reveal. [/being a smart a**]
Just messin' with ya. :)
Now that 4x starting skills are gone at first level, I'm really liking what another poster said about starting HP. Might as well do away with the idea that the first level you take matters in any way.
EDIT:
We play 1/2+1 HP. It's a little easier to calculate and it only adds 10 extra HP through 20 levels. We used to roll HP but strangely enough, everyone always ended up with average or way above average. Go figure. Sadly, bad luck, especially in the early levels, can really make your character horrible if he's an upfront melee fighter type. I like the 1/2+1 because then you can always recalculate to exactly what you should have and not have to wonder if you forgot to do it. It's not like the Rogue gets 2d8-1 skill points per level or the Wizard gets 1d4 spells to add to his spellbook every level. Rolling HP is kind of a throw back that really should just be thrown out or replaced with something a little less extreme IMO.
|
Creative Director
|
Starting HP is really that big of a secret? I can't wait for the shocking reveal. [/being a smart a**]
Actually, they are. In that they're a part of a big secret, which is the rest of the book. And if we gave away everything at once, that removes the excitement of the buildup and the anticipation. It's marketing, basically.
Starting HP is really that big of a secret? I can't wait for the shocking reveal. [/being a smart a**]Actually, they are. In that they're a part of a big secret, which is the rest of the book. And if we gave away everything at once, that removes the excitement of the buildup and the anticipation. It's marketing, basically.
I know. I was just fooling around a little.
I'm kind of hoping that it goes something like this:
Starting HP is really that big of a secret? I can't wait for the shocking reveal. [/being a smart a**]Actually, they are. In that they're a part of a big secret, which is the rest of the book. And if we gave away everything at once, that removes the excitement of the buildup and the anticipation. It's marketing, basically.
Someone announcing something is a secret makes me want to crack it.
Luckily, we have plenty of evidence. I recently mentioned that this is the only thing I'd immediately house rule if I didn't like the answer to it, so I am plenty motivated.Let's look backward at the blogs:
Rogue Preview: hp 42 (6d8 + 12)
If we actually take the 6d8 to have its usual meaning then we should stop right here and say it's random with no starter points. Which of course, I cannot deny is possible, but let look anyway, and hope the blogger didn't have dice handy.
42 - 12 = 30 which is 5 * 6 so it could be 5 constant hp for each d8 which I'd like fine, but that won't hold up.
Mean(6d8) = 27 so if rolled we were a little on the lucky side.
Mean(5d8) = 22.5 + 8 starter hp = 30.5 which could be rounded to 30.
Barb Preview: hp 252 (17d12 + 136)
252 - 136 = 116
Mean(17d12) = 110.5 so again we were lucky at 116.
Mean(16d12) = 104 + 12 starter hp = 116. hmmmm.
Monk Preview: hp 63 (8d8 + 24)
63 - 24 = 39
Mean(7d8) = 31.5 + 8 starter hp = 39.5
Druid Preview: hp 71 (8d8 + 32)
71-32 = 39 hey look the same number again. (if this doesn't prove the blogger wasn't rolling nothing will!)
And in contrast:
Animal Companion: hp 45 (7d8 + 14)
45-14=31 which is the mean of 7d8.
So here are the alternatives left:
1) The very unlikely, somebody rolled all these hp and it just turned out like this.
2) Starter HP + random rolls but the blogger just used average numbers instead.
3) Starter HP + constant hp according to the mean (aka 1/2 die odd, 1/2 die + 1 even.)
What is very clear is that you get starter hps. So all those Rogue first then Fighter multi-class builds just became Fighter first builds, and I have to make my first PFRPG house rule.
So in my group, instead of a maximized hit die characters get their constitution as a bonus on first level.
CON score or x2 their CON bonus?
On a humorous note, you wouldn't believe how fast we got slaughtered when we misread the starting HP rule for 4E the first time we played and used the CON bonus instead of score. :D
|
Chief Technical Officer
|
This, like many other elements of the game, is probably not going to be revealed until the book releases in a few weeks at Gen Con.
Those of you holding your breath for the answer can save many precious seconds by heading directly to the bottom of the left-hand column on page 12.
|
|
This, like many other elements of the game, is probably not going to be revealed until the book releases in a few weeks at Gen Con.Those of you holding your breath for the answer can save many precious seconds by heading directly to the bottom of the left-hand column on page 12.
There's nuthin' in the beta that says...oh, wait ;-)
I'm kind of hoping that it goes something like this:
And don't forget a couple of Gold Chocobos !
And don't forget a couple of Gold Chocobos !
That game made me hate chocobos so much. :)