No HP to spare

[drengnikrafe]

I was tinkering with numbers the other day, because I was bored, and there was a flaw called "frail". This (for those of you who don't know) causes the amount of HP you would gain at a new level by 1, so if you roll a 3 with a CON mod of 0, you'd get 2 points. It also says it can take it from 1 to 0. I suddenly realized that you could have a 20th level caster (d4 hit die) with a CON of 5 (-3), you'd gain 0 HP every level, and thus... 0 HP.

So what I ask you, people of the forums... Would such a character be playable in any sense of the word?

[dman11235]

First off, there is a minimum con score to take the flaw, and that con score is...4 I believe. It's such a score that at level 1 with that score as a d4 HP character you'd have 1 HP anyways.

But, yes, this character with 1 HP can be viable, but it would be hard to play, thanks to the power word spells. As a wizard, archivist, artificer, and probably cleric or druid you should be able to pull it off. I know wizards (and thus artificers and archivists) have many tricks to never take damage, from any source possible (non-detection spells for one, immunity combinations for another).

However just the feat, it's very viable, just don't dump con and -1 HP/level isn't that big of a price to pay for a free feat. It's one of those strongly considered flaws, along with either shaky or non-combatant.

[ColonelFuster]

Yes. But you may die.

[Tsotha-lanti]

0 HP? No, because you aren't conscious.

I guess if someone turns you into a Necropolitan you're set, though.

[drengnikrafe]

0 HP? No, because you aren't conscious.

I guess if someone turns you into a Necropolitan you're set, though.

You could take Die Hard as your feat for it. Then you would be conscious.

[Tsotha-lanti]

My bad, you're disabled, not unconscious. You just drop to -1 whenever you perform a standard action.

[Pinnacle]

First off, there is a minimum con score to take the flaw, and that con score is...4 I believe. It's such a score that at level 1 with that score as a d4 HP character you'd have 1 HP anyways.

-1 for the flaw. 0.

[dman11235]

After the flaw. But since the con req is 4 and that brings you to 1 before the flaw, it's 0 (my bad). Well, you can't play that character since you'll constantly be disabled or dying. You'll need at least 1 HP, but with 1+HP a big 5 caster could probably pull it off.

[Frosty]

I always like HP...even as a caster. I'd never take that Flaw.

[Tengu_temp]

I always like HP...even as a caster. I'd never take that Flaw.

Good stance. HPs become useless for Wizards around level 10, but they need to survive until that time. And at low levels, archers are casters' greatest enemies.

[Kurald Galain]

Ah, this reminds me of Nup-Nup...

[jcsw]

Be a psion and cast share pain on your psicrystal and share vigor with it? (in RAW the hardness still works against share pain damage too, IIRC)

...an Elan psion with the Elan Retainment feat just in case? (Allows you to spend 1 pp to block 4 damage)

...and some other higher level powers to help, like energy adaptation, (10 energy resistance to basic energy types, 20 at level 10 and 30 at level 16, IIRC) and Intellect Fortress? (Halves damage taken from spells, including ability damage)

Might work.

[Aquillion]

Don't forget, there are some ways to make your con score stop mattering. (Turning into a Lich, for instance, which also raises your HD to d12.) Those would negate the disadvantage here, and should probably be disallowed.

[Adumbration]

You should also take the Quick trait...

[monty]

Take that flaw. And then use your bonus feat for Improved Toughness. Watch your DM glare at you.

[Frosty]

Take that flaw. And then use your bonus feat for Improved Toughness. Watch your DM glare at you.

Actually, at low levels, take Toughness instead. You'll be ahead 2 HP at level 1. Retrain later.

[KillianHawkeye]

I think the key to playing a 0 hp character at low levels is to find a reliable source of temporary hp.

[monty]

Actually, at low levels, take Toughness instead. You'll be ahead 2 HP at level 1. Retrain later.

Yeah, but that's just not as fun as taking a flaw and the exact opposite feat.

Edit: It wouldn't be quite as interesting as taking Meager Fortitude and Great Fortitude, although that still gives you a net -1 to your save.