Hit Point Calculation

[Craig1234]

Found several variations of this and wanted to ask for clarification. Let's say that I'm rolling a character whose hit die is a d8. At first level, I give max HP, so he gets the full 8, but for subsequent levels, does he automatically get max or does he roll and maybe only have 9 HP at level 2 and 10 at level 3 (if he's a really bad roller). Also, looking through the core rulebook, it looks like there is a +1 to leveling class, so is the calculation actually d8+1? Finally, we're moving out of the beginner box into full rules, and in the beginner box HP was d8+CON, is that anything like it in the full rules?

Thanks

[RainyDayNinja]

You do add your Constitution modifier to the hit points you gain at each level. And if you're rolling, you can indeed roll a series of 1s and end up with a really frail character; for that reason, lots of GMs will instead use something like "average rounded up" (so 5 hp for a d8, 6 hp for a d10, and so on).

[Martin Sheaffer]

At first level the rules say he gets max hit points, so for a d8 he gets 8 points (plus his con modifier). After that he would roll the d8 and get the value plus his con modifier. Yes you can get sucky hit point totals if you roll bad. Our group allows a second roll which is averaged with the first if the roller wishes. There are other methods like this around also, very GM dependant.

[blahpers]

Ultimate Campaign allows retraining to add a hit point as often as you can afford (up to your maximum possible HP total).

PFS and some others simply assume average rolls after first level. Makes things simpler and fairer.

[anthonydido]

The method with which you determine HPs at level up is determined by your GM. It could be a roll, it could be average or I've even had GMs give me the option between the two each level.

The basic formula is this:

At level 1 you get max for your class + con modifier + favored class bonus (if you choose this)

Each race gets to pick a favored class upon creating the character that cannot be changed once chosen (half-elves get 2). If you gain a level (including 1st level) with the chosen class you can pick to either gain an extra skill point to spend or gain 1 HP.

Now, each level you would get base (either rolled or average) + con modifier + favored class bonus (if chosen)

Does that help any?

[Lifat]

oh and also... If you are gaining a level in your favored class you have the option of an additional HP or 1 skill point.

And yeah... There are LOADS of different houserules concerning HP.
I've tried the following:
Reroll lowest 25% (a 1 on a d6, 2 on d8, 2 on d10, 3 on d12) and take the second roll regardless.

Reroll lowest 25% (a 1 on a d6, 2 on d8, 2 on d10, 3 on d12) and keep rolling untill you get higher.

Reroll lowest 25% (a 2 on a d6, 2 on d8, 3 on d10, 3 on d12) and take the second roll regardless.

Reroll lowest 25% (a 2 on a d6, 2 on d8, 3 on d10, 3 on d12) and keep rolling untill you get higher

Average HP round down or average HP round up.

MAX HP on all levels except the newest one (meaning you only keep the roll for 1 level).

Reduce all HP dice to a d4 and grant a bonus on the roll depending on the original dice used. A d6 becomes d4+2 and a d8 becomes d4+4 and so on.

And of course the core way of handling it with the rule of "You roll what you roll".

[Rub-Eta]

In my group we roll twice and take the better result.

[Lifat]

oh right. Roll twice and take best. I've tried that aswell.
Personally speaking I think I like this houserule the best... It reduces the amount of bad rolls without completely annihilating them.

[Akerlof]

Craig1234 wrote:

Also, looking through the core rulebook, it looks like there is a +1 to leveling class, so is the calculation actually d8+1?

In the core rules, that +1 is coming from your Favored Class Bonus. Each character picks one class as their favored class when they begin play. Each time they gain a level (including their first level) in their favored class they get to choose either an extra 1HP or an extra 1 skill rank (the Advanced Players Guide and Advanced Race Guide expand these options.) If the character takes a level in another class, say they're multiclassing or they take a prestige class, they do not get the bonus HP or skill point. (Half elves have the benefit of being able to choose two favored classes.)

I highly suggest taking the extra HP most of the time.

For example, I have a PC with 16 Con, the Toughness feat, 5 levels of Cleric and 1 level of Fighter, Cleric is his favored class:

Level 1: Cleric 1 - 8 (max HP) + 3 (Con) + 3 (Toughness) + 1 (Favored Class Bonus) = 15 HP total
Level 2: Fighter 1 - 6 (d10 average rounded up) + 3 (Con) + 15 (previous total) = 24 HP total
Level 3: Cleric 2 - 5 (d8 average) + 3 (Con) + 1 (Favored Class) + 24 (previous total) = 33 HP total
Level 4: Cleric 3 - 5 (d8 average) + 3 (Con) + 1 (Toughness) + 1 (Favored Class) + 33 (previous total) = 43 HP total
Level 5: Cleric 4 - 5 (d8 average) + 3 (Con) + 1 (Toughness) + 1 (Favored Class) + 43 (previous total) = 53 HP total
So on and so forth.

And if I get a belt that increases my Constitution by 2, bringing me up to 18 Con, all those Con bonuses would be recalculated and I would gain 5 HP, bringing my HP total to 58 at level 5.

[Kayden3967]

im making a Level 3 brawler fighter and barbarian and i'd like to ask some assistance to build them properly im kinda new to pathfinder dnd character building as well