SpiralWorlds Player’s Manual · Character Creation
Hit Points & Hit Dice
Starting HP · higher-level HP · Constitution · edition-specific Hit Dice
Hit Points measure how much danger your character can withstand before being unable to continue. Your class supplies the Hit Die; Constitution modifies the total. The basic idea is shared across editions, but the class dice and higher-level procedures are not identical.
Rules procedure
Calculate Hit Points using your edition
D&D 5.5e / 2024
Level 1: take the maximum value of your class Hit Point Die and add your Constitution modifier.
| Class | Hit Die | Level-1 HP | Fixed HP at later levels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbarian | d12 | 12 + Con modifier | 7 + Con modifier |
| Fighter, Paladin, Ranger | d10 | 10 + Con modifier | 6 + Con modifier |
| Bard, Cleric, Druid, Monk, Rogue, Warlock | d8 | 8 + Con modifier | 5 + Con modifier |
| Sorcerer, Wizard | d6 | 6 + Con modifier | 4 + Con modifier |
Later levels: each time you gain a level, gain another Hit Die. Roll it and add your Constitution modifier, with a minimum gain of 1 HP, or use the class’s fixed value instead of rolling.
Constitution changes: if your Constitution modifier changes, recalculate the maximum retroactively. A +1 increase to the modifier adds 1 HP for every character level you already have.
Apply other HP features after the base calculation. Species, feats, class features or other rules can modify maximum HP. For example, a 2024 Dwarf’s Dwarven Toughness increases maximum HP by 1 at level 1 and again whenever the character gains a level. Record such additions separately so they are not lost when recalculating HP later.
Multiclassing: only your first total character level receives level-1 maximum HP. When you later take level 1 in another class, use that class’s higher-level HP procedure, not its first-character-level maximum.
Pathfinder 1e
Level 1: a player character whose first Hit Die is a character-class Hit Die receives the maximum result of that die, then applies the Constitution modifier.
Later levels: roll the class Hit Die and add the Constitution modifier. A Constitution penalty cannot reduce the HP gained from a new Hit Die below 1.
| Hit Die | Common PF1e classes |
|---|---|
| d12 | Barbarian |
| d10 | Fighter, Cavalier, Gunslinger, Paladin, Ranger, Samurai |
| d8 | Alchemist, Bard, Cleric, Druid, Inquisitor, Monk, Ninja, Oracle, Rogue, Summoner |
| d6 | Magus, Sorcerer, Witch, Wizard |
Check the actual class page. The table above is a quick reference for common PF1e classes; class variants and third-party classes can differ.
Constitution changes: if the Constitution modifier changes, apply the change across the character’s Hit Dice as the PF1e rules require.
D&D 3.5e
Level 1: a standard player character takes the maximum value of the first class Hit Die and adds the Constitution modifier.
Later levels: roll the new class Hit Die and add the Constitution modifier; the character gains at least 1 HP from the Hit Die even if the Constitution penalty would otherwise reduce the result below 1.
| Class | 3.5e Hit Die | Do not confuse with later editions |
|---|---|---|
| Barbarian | d12 | Same die size |
| Fighter, Paladin | d10 | Same die size |
| Cleric, Druid, Monk | d8 | Same die size as PF1e/5.5e |
| Ranger | d8 | PF1e/5.5e Ranger uses d10 |
| Bard, Rogue | d6 | PF1e/5.5e use d8 |
| Sorcerer, Wizard | d4 | PF1e/5.5e use d6 |
For a first character
Record four separate numbers
Write the character’s maximum HP, current HP, Hit Die type/count and any temporary HP in their proper places. At the start of play, current HP normally equals maximum HP and temporary HP is normally 0 unless a rule says otherwise.
Before moving on
Hit Point checklist
- The correct edition and class Hit Die are recorded.
- Level-1 HP uses the correct maximum-die rule.
- The Constitution modifier has been added correctly.
- Higher-level HP has not been mistaken for level-1 HP.
- 5.5e fixed HP is used only when chosen instead of rolling.
- A multiclass character receives first-level maximum HP only once.
- 3.5e Ranger, Rogue, Bard, Sorcerer and Wizard dice have not been replaced by PF1e/5.5e values.
- Maximum HP, current HP and temporary HP are separate.
- Constitution changes have been applied retroactively where the edition requires it.
Sources and licensing
Rules sources
- D&D 2024 Basic Rules — Creating a Character
- D&D 2024 Basic Rules — Character Classes
- Pathfinder 1e Core Rulebook — Getting Started
- d20 SRD — D&D 3.5e
SRD 5.2.1 attribution: This work includes material from the System Reference Document 5.2.1 by Wizards of the Coast LLC, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International.
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