Post by Finarvyn on Jun 4, 2019 4:29:37 GMT -6
This came to me in a dream, so apologies if it still seems a little muddled. (Often things which are logical in dreams seem crazy when I wake up, but this one could actually be solid. 
)
In 5E* there is a concept called "temporary hit points" whereby you can for a while go over your rolled HP value. I think there is a spell allowing a bard to "inspire" a party and give them a few temporary HP. There are probably other examples, but I'd have to search for them.
Anyway, my idea was to apply this to OD&D. Wouldn't a monster in its lair fight to defend it harder than it might fight if found in the wilderness? Doesn't John Carter fight a lot harder when in the presence of Dejah Thoris? Aren't there conditions which might cause a character (or monster) to give just a little more?
So, I tend to break my campaign into "tiers" based on character (or monster) level and based on the fighter titles at various levels. I wanted to assign a temporary hit point plus for each condition the character (or monster) is inspired by, and I was thinking that they might stack.
How about this:
Flunky = levels 0-3 = +1 per condition
Hero = levels 4-7 = +2 per condition
Superhero = levels 8-11 = +3 per condition
Mythic = levels 12+ = +4 per condition
So, for example an orc (1 HD) defending its lair might gain +1 temporary HP. That same orc defending its lair and its mate might gain +2 tHP.
John Carter (level 13) defending Helium would get +4 tHP, but +8 tHP if Dejah is present.
As I type this, I had a second idea and I'm not sure if it would REPLACE the above or ADD TO IT. Use the same chart but let those bonuses be to hit. This would represent ferocity of a person (or beast) who is cornered, and I'm thinking that this one might NOT stack as those bonuses are rather large already.
A third idea could be that a character (or monster) might get "inspiration" from each condition. This would probably not be tiered but might stack. Inspiration is another 5E* concept which grants "advantage" (roll 2d20 and keep the best) to that individual's action roll.
What do you think?
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* When I mention a "5E concept" I do so because this is where I happened to encounter it. It's possible that these things existed in earlier editions but I didn't know about them at the time.
)In 5E* there is a concept called "temporary hit points" whereby you can for a while go over your rolled HP value. I think there is a spell allowing a bard to "inspire" a party and give them a few temporary HP. There are probably other examples, but I'd have to search for them.
Anyway, my idea was to apply this to OD&D. Wouldn't a monster in its lair fight to defend it harder than it might fight if found in the wilderness? Doesn't John Carter fight a lot harder when in the presence of Dejah Thoris? Aren't there conditions which might cause a character (or monster) to give just a little more?
So, I tend to break my campaign into "tiers" based on character (or monster) level and based on the fighter titles at various levels. I wanted to assign a temporary hit point plus for each condition the character (or monster) is inspired by, and I was thinking that they might stack.
How about this:
Flunky = levels 0-3 = +1 per condition
Hero = levels 4-7 = +2 per condition
Superhero = levels 8-11 = +3 per condition
Mythic = levels 12+ = +4 per condition
So, for example an orc (1 HD) defending its lair might gain +1 temporary HP. That same orc defending its lair and its mate might gain +2 tHP.
John Carter (level 13) defending Helium would get +4 tHP, but +8 tHP if Dejah is present.
As I type this, I had a second idea and I'm not sure if it would REPLACE the above or ADD TO IT. Use the same chart but let those bonuses be to hit. This would represent ferocity of a person (or beast) who is cornered, and I'm thinking that this one might NOT stack as those bonuses are rather large already.
A third idea could be that a character (or monster) might get "inspiration" from each condition. This would probably not be tiered but might stack. Inspiration is another 5E* concept which grants "advantage" (roll 2d20 and keep the best) to that individual's action roll.
What do you think?
-----------------------
* When I mention a "5E concept" I do so because this is where I happened to encounter it. It's possible that these things existed in earlier editions but I didn't know about them at the time.
