I understand that hit points are linked to the "hit die". But is the hit die a constant number (for example: if my PC has 1d8 hit die, I have 8 HPs), or do I need to actually roll the die to see how many HPs I have?
[RPG] Is the hit die supposed to be rolled
hit-pointspathfinder-1e
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Best Answer
For player characters, hit die are rolled once for each hit die achieved.
Every time a PC acquires a new hit die (which is generally exactly once per level at the time of level-up), they roll the hit die and add the number rolled to their hit points (plus additional modifiers). For example, when a fighter gains a level, he rolls 1d10 and acquires HP equal to the amount rolled. Hit dice are only rolled once, and the result is permanent and binding.
Player Characters acquire max HP at 1st level.
As an exception to the rule, the amount of HP a player gains at first level (for their first hit die) is equal to the maximum amount of the hit die without rolling. For example, a 1st level fighter would gain 10 hp (plus relevant modifiers) by simply "pretending" that he rolled a 10 on 1d10 instead of actually rolling. Subsequent levels would have him roll as noted above.
Monsters can sometimes use shortcuts.
Often, it is impractical to roll the HP for every individual monster. While they technically use the same rules, it is also acceptable to use an average amount of HP for them without rolling. The Monster Manuals automatically give you what this amount would be in parentheses for your convenience. If you don't feel like rolling, simply use these amounts for all monsters.
Certain House-Rules subvert these rules.
Player Characters can use the rule of using the average amount without rolling as well if the DM so desires. This means keeping track of fractional amounts of HP which don't count until they make a full HP, due to the fact that all of the die-sizes in the game have an even number of sides. For example, "half" of a d10 is 5.5 (not 5, which is actually in the lower half of the range). Therefore, a Fighter using this rule would gain 10 HP at level 1 (still using the max HP at 1st level rule), 5 HP at level 2 (with an extra 0.5 in reserve), 6 HP at level 3 (using the two halves of an HP to make an extra 1), and then continue to alternate between 5 and 6 on subsequent levels.
As an alternative, one can used a revised version of those house rules and just round the numbers up to the next highest whole number. That way, you don't have to deal with fractions, and characters only end up half of an HP stronger than average - a good tradeoff if you just don't like math. That means that d4 = 3HP, d6 = 4HP, d8 = 5HP, d10 = 6HP, and d12 = 7HP. Don't forget to add the correct modifiers at each level as well, as well as use the max amount for 1st level.