As D&D Next is ages away, I have been playing around with some of the stuff we have been talking about to see if I can make a working D&D incarnation that I actually like.

One of the core things about this is trying to collapse down the power curve, which leads to the issue of how to assign hit points per level. There are three current D&D models, Hit Dice for 10 levels followed by a static bonus (1st/2nd), hit dice ever level (3rd) and a static bonus ever level (4th).

Now of these, the 4th edition one is probably the superior model, its flat, sustainable and easy to manage. Further, saying Fighters get 3 hit points a level, Rogue and Clerics get 2 and Wizards get 1 is simple, always a plus. However, this does mean the game has no Hit Dice in it, and I am not sure that's not taking away one of the things that makes D&D feel like D&D.

So does anyone have a a better way of reducing Hit Points per level where you do not end up sacrificing the Hit Dice?

Smaller dice (a la Basic - i.e., d8s for fighters)?

Iron Heroes gives everyone 1d4+static bonus(+Con bonus if any) each level, e.g. a 5th-level Man-At-Arms rolls 5d4+30(+Con bonus if any).

Hit points and damage can be whatever you want to make them. If you want to keep overall numbers low, use smaller hit dice and damage dice.

The smaller the overall numbers the more rare and sparse bonuses should be. A +1 or 2 to damage is a big deal on the OD&D side of the scale but considerably less impressive in 3E.

Some people enjoy large hit point totals and rolling handfulls of dice for damage, other prefer more modest numbers. Choose what seems like the most enjoyable option for your group.

Quote from: jadrax;533156One of the core things about this is trying to collapse down the power curve, which leads to the issue of how to assign hit points per level. There are three current D&D models, Hit Dice for 10 levels followed by a static bonus (1st/2nd), hit dice ever level (3rd) and a static bonus ever level (4th).

So does anyone have a a better way of reducing Hit Points per level where you do not end up sacrificing the Hit Dice?

D6's for everyone, but frail classes re-roll 6's and buff classes re-roll 1's?

D6's for all, but with damage resistance for buff classes, and / or damage weakness for frail classes?

D3 + 0 for frail classes, 2d3 for average, d3+3 for buff?

D6 / level, but buff classes get to roll all their dice and take the highest of (their previous max HP, +1) or (the new result)?

Use flat values and key every item depending on the variable "hit dice" off "character level" instead?

I don;t think loosing Hit dice is a big deal. You still have level.

If you wanted to keep hit dice for monsters you could roll d6s instead of asigning 3 per HD.

Even the term HD is only a term at the end of the day a creature has a bonus to attack and a number of hit points it doesn't really affect the game if those hit points are asigned or randomly rolled. Just like you can roll to attack and add a level based bonus to hit a target number or you can change the number you have to hit as you level up (like in AD&D) in play you still have to roll a 10 or an 8 on a d20 that bit doesn't actually change.

A simple chart shall surfice!

Assign a hit die to each class, d4, d6, d8 and d10. When you go up a level, roll that dice and consult the chart below to determine how many hit points you gain.

Result
1               2 hits
2               2 hits
3               3 hits
4               3 hits
5               4 hits
6               4 hits
7               5 hits
8               5 hits
9               6 hits
10             6 hits

I actually like the idea of a static bonus per level (modified by Con). This is one of the things that wouldn't really bug me if it changed.

A character's starting hit points = CON score.

At creation only:

+5 HP = Fighter
+4 HP = Cleric
+3 HP = Rogue
+2 HP = Caster

At each level gained, a character receives 2 + CON modifier Hit Points (Minimum 1 HP gained each level).

You neglected OD&D which is a combination of the two (dice, +1, dice, etc.)

Quote from: Drohem;533226A character's starting hit points = CON score.

At creation only:

+5 HP = Fighter
+4 HP = Cleric
+3 HP = Rogue
+2 HP = Caster

At each level gained, a character receives 2 + CON modifier Hit Points (Minimum 1 HP gained each level).

I'd use half CON, personally. The rest looks good.

I've used smaller dice akin to Basic/Expert in my D&D games. It trims HP a little. D&D has always broken down (for me) when HP get too high. 60 or so would be about where it gets to bother me.