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Throntar · 06-14-2001, 01:48 PM

Hit Dice (HD) is a convention carried over from PnP Dungeons & Dragons. Every character class, and monsters, roll a different sided die to determine their total hit points (HP). For instance, Rangers generally have the highest HP totals (at least in PnP they do). This is because they roll a 12-sided ("d12" for short) die to figure out their HPs. Basically, you get to roll whatever die your character is allowed once for each level attained. For instance, Mages only roll a 4-sided die (d4)for HP calculations as they are generally physically weaker than fighters. Now, Fighters roll 10-sided die, Clerics roll an 8-sided die, Thieves roll a 6-sided die, etc.

Monsters all roll an 8-sided die (d8)

Now...

What this means is that a 9th level Fighter rolls a 10-sided die 9 times to total up how many HPs they have (they also get to include any bonuses for having a high Constitution score). The shorthand for this is "9d10". Make sense so far???

So...if a monster is classified as a 12HD monster...that means that his HPs are 12d8. They could be anywhere between 12 and 96 (plus any CON bonuses and magical bonuses that might apply). The convention of HD merely determines the relative "toughness" of a given monster. For instance, I think goblins have 1HD and stone golems may have, like, 8HD. Does that help?

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Now where did I leave that doughnut?!

06-14-2001, 01:48 PM	#2
Throntar Drizzt Do'Urden Join Date: March 15, 2001 Location: Missouri, USA Posts: 632	Hit Dice (HD) is a convention carried over from PnP Dungeons & Dragons. Every character class, and monsters, roll a different sided die to determine their total hit points (HP). For instance, Rangers generally have the highest HP totals (at least in PnP they do). This is because they roll a 12-sided ("d12" for short) die to figure out their HPs. Basically, you get to roll whatever die your character is allowed once for each level attained. For instance, Mages only roll a 4-sided die (d4)for HP calculations as they are generally physically weaker than fighters. Now, Fighters roll 10-sided die, Clerics roll an 8-sided die, Thieves roll a 6-sided die, etc. Monsters all roll an 8-sided die (d8) Now... What this means is that a 9th level Fighter rolls a 10-sided die 9 times to total up how many HPs they have (they also get to include any bonuses for having a high Constitution score). The shorthand for this is "9d10". Make sense so far??? So...if a monster is classified as a 12HD monster...that means that his HPs are 12d8. They could be anywhere between 12 and 96 (plus any CON bonuses and magical bonuses that might apply). The convention of HD merely determines the relative "toughness" of a given monster. For instance, I think goblins have 1HD and stone golems may have, like, 8HD. Does that help? ------------------ Now where did I leave that doughnut?!