I am new to D&D and I'm starting with the 5th edition. I have a question about how many hit points I have for a level. I am confused about the con modifier per level and if it is added to first level.
Let's say my con modifier is +3 and I decide to take 6 instead of rolling the d10 (as a Ranger).
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Hit Points at 1st level: 10 + Constitution Modifier
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Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d10 (or 6) + your Constitution Modifier per ranger level after 1st.
At first level, my HP is 13. OK. That I understand. At the 2nd level is it 6 + 3 (con. modifier) equal to 9, then added to my first level's HP, for a total of 22? Or is it 6 + 3 (con modifier for first level) + 3 (con modifier for second level) equal to 12? Then is this added to the HP from first level?
If you could give me an example of, say, the first 4 levels of a ranger using the numbers I gave you (6 instead of d10 and +3 as a con modifier), that might make it easier to explain.
Best Answer
Each level, you get Hit Die + Constitution modifier additional Maximum HP. You always take the maximum of the Hit Die at 1st level; afterward, you may roll the Hit Die or take its average rounded up.
Therefore, with a 1d10 Hit Die and +3 Constitution modifier, assuming you take 6 each time instead of rolling:
\begin{array}{rrcrcrcr} \text{1st level:} & 10 & + & 3 &&& = & 13 \\ \text{2nd level:} & 6 & + & 3 & + & 13 & = & 22 \\ \text{3rd level:} & 6 & + & 3 & + & 22 & = & 31 \\ \text{4th level:} & 6 & + & 3 & + & 31 & = & 40 \\ \end{array}
In short, you will add 9 HP for each level beyond 1st.
If your Constitution modifier later changes, it will apply the new bonus for every level you had so far. So if at level 4 your Constitution modifier is boosted to +4 instead of +3 (for a difference of 1), you will add 4 HP because you are level 4, which will make your HP 44 instead of 40. (It's basically as if your Constitution modifier were +4 all along.)