Yakk
2008-09-02, 12:09 PM
In 4e, Constitution is extremely important at level 1 for your HP. And then as you gain levels, it becomes less and less important.
It is probably too important at level 1 -- but I also think it isn't important enough by level 10+.
So, here is an attempt to make constitution last the test of levels:
Hit Points:
At level 1, you have your constitution stat, plus your class based HP. Each level you gain you are given more HP based off of your class.
At level 4, you add 1.5x your Con instead of 1x your Con you have had since level 1.
Level 8, 2x your con
Level 14: 2.5x your con
Level 18: 3x your con
Level 24: 3.5x your con
Level 28: 4x your con
At level 1 your HP are 15+Con.
At level 28, your HP become 177+4*Con, or 4*(44.25+Con)
As you can see, the importance of Con as a percentage of your HP falls to 1/3 that it was at level 1.
Wizards go from 10+Con at level 1 up to (118+4*Con) at level 28, or (29.5+Con)*4. Once again, Con falls in importance (per point) to 1/3 as much at the high epic.
This generates a gradual reduction of the importance of con to your HP, without it becoming utterly unimportant at high levels.
...
A very similar alternative would be to add your con bonus to your HP at level 4, 8, 14, 18, 24, 28. In a funny way, it actually results in con being more important! Note that twice your con bonus is about equal to your con stat, minus 10. (this is accurate to within 1).
So Wizards 10+Con at level 1 up to ~(98+4*Con) at level 28, or (24.5+Con)*4.
And Fighters go 15+Con at level 1 up to (157+4*Con) = (39.25+Con)*4.
Con is 2.5 times less important by high-epic if you add your Con modifier rather than 1/2 your con stat at 4/8/14/18/24/28.
Thoughts?
One downside is that this reduces the advantage of the "High HP" classes have over the "low HP classes". It also reduces the threat that a given monster can kill a player quickly, because it causes a bit of HP inflation.
It is probably too important at level 1 -- but I also think it isn't important enough by level 10+.
So, here is an attempt to make constitution last the test of levels:
Hit Points:
At level 1, you have your constitution stat, plus your class based HP. Each level you gain you are given more HP based off of your class.
At level 4, you add 1.5x your Con instead of 1x your Con you have had since level 1.
Level 8, 2x your con
Level 14: 2.5x your con
Level 18: 3x your con
Level 24: 3.5x your con
Level 28: 4x your con
At level 1 your HP are 15+Con.
At level 28, your HP become 177+4*Con, or 4*(44.25+Con)
As you can see, the importance of Con as a percentage of your HP falls to 1/3 that it was at level 1.
Wizards go from 10+Con at level 1 up to (118+4*Con) at level 28, or (29.5+Con)*4. Once again, Con falls in importance (per point) to 1/3 as much at the high epic.
This generates a gradual reduction of the importance of con to your HP, without it becoming utterly unimportant at high levels.
...
A very similar alternative would be to add your con bonus to your HP at level 4, 8, 14, 18, 24, 28. In a funny way, it actually results in con being more important! Note that twice your con bonus is about equal to your con stat, minus 10. (this is accurate to within 1).
So Wizards 10+Con at level 1 up to ~(98+4*Con) at level 28, or (24.5+Con)*4.
And Fighters go 15+Con at level 1 up to (157+4*Con) = (39.25+Con)*4.
Con is 2.5 times less important by high-epic if you add your Con modifier rather than 1/2 your con stat at 4/8/14/18/24/28.
Thoughts?
One downside is that this reduces the advantage of the "High HP" classes have over the "low HP classes". It also reduces the threat that a given monster can kill a player quickly, because it causes a bit of HP inflation.