Barbarian Rage Questions

[Darth That Guy]

I am new to RPGs as is, having only played a few sessions of D&D 4e and 5e, so forgive me if this question is stupid. When it comes to raging, the way I understand the rule is "while raging I get +4 to strength and +2 to Constitution" I take it that's the actual ability score and not the modifier, correct? Also, it says I get +2 HP per Hit Dice, so I take it since my Hit Dice is a d12 it translates out to 2x12=24? So my HPs while raging are 24?

[Kyle '88]

Yeah the +4 & +2 are to the ability score. For instance if your Strength is 18 it will go to 22 when your raging. The +2 HP per hit dice just means +2 HP per level so at level 2 you would get +4 HP while raging.

[JimmySC]

It's important to note that Barbarian Rage actually gives you +4 to both Strength and Constitution. The +2 HP per Hit Die comes from the +4 Constitution bonus.

Hit Die is very different from 5E. Every level you gain an additional hit die, so at level 1 you have 1 Hit Die, which happens to be a d12. You add your Constitution modifier to your HP gained at every level. So at level 1, your HP is 12 (max number of the hit die) + your Con modifier. Since Rage increases your Con Modifier by 2 (by increasing the stat by 4), you gain 2 additional HP. At level 2, you'll gain 4 additional HP (because the Con Modifier applies to each Hit Die you have).

Note that that HP goes away when you drop out of rage. It's very dangerous to be knocked unconscious as a barbarian... at least at later levels.

[SodiumTelluride]

If this is for Pathfinder, the bonuses are +4 Str and +4 Con. This is where the +2 HP per hit die comes from-- your Constitution modifier goes up by 2, and every time your Constitution modifier changes (up or down) your hit points are adjusted accordingly.

Your hit points don't just become 24 at level 2, you gain 4 hit points. Your normal hit points would be:

12 (max at first level)
+Con modifier
+any additional HP (favored class, feats, etc.)
+1d12 (level 2)
+Con modifier
+any additional HP

While raging, you add 4.

[Bob Bob Bob]

When a barbarian rages they get +4 Strength, +4 Constitution, +2 Will, and -2 AC. This increases the ability score, not the modifier. Because of how stats work this means that they get +2 to the modifier (every +2 stats gives +1 modifier). This increases melee attacks and damage by 2, Fort saves by 2, and the HP you gain each level by 2 (from the increases to Str and Con). So you'll hit better, hit harder, have a better Fort save, and have more HP.

The way that HP is calculated normally is hit dice + Con modifier each level, as your Con modifier has gone up your HP goes up. This is retroactive, so it counts it as if you'd had a higher Con the whole time. When you eventually get +6 and +8 Con you'll get 3xlevel and 4xlevel bonus HP. It is taken off first and doesn't count as temp HP, so if you lose enough HP you might die when you drop out of rage.

[Iorthol]

You will never get a bonus to your ability score modifiers. You will only ever get bonuses to your ability scores themselves. Your modifiers are based off that score, so when something says "+4 str" or "+200 int" always assume it means the ability score.

When it says +2hp per hit die, it's just summarizing the effect of gaining 4 con, which translates into +2 con, which is +2hp/level.
You get +2 hitpoints per character level when raging.
These are to your hitpoint max however. When your rage ends, you keep the amount of damage you've taken.
It's always better to track damage instead of remaining HP, because fluctuating con scores change your max/remaining HP but damage always stays the same no matter what's happened to your ability scores.