What If PC Hit Points Weren't Randomized?

[Porphyre]

Rolling Hit Dice versus Damage Dice actually is a little like Rolling the hp "on the fly" during the battle. I had the idea discussing on another forum with a DM who said that he never rolled the hp of the monsters until the first hit was scored.

[Fearghus]

I like set HP for the classes. The suggestion of rolling for HP every day is interesting. I like that good day / bad day description. As others have said, 4th edition has set HP per level. 3.X has max at first level and then roll from there. Most of the games I run involve one player playing one character, and being the wankers and munchkins we are I simply allow max HP for him.

I entertained a descending pattern for editions that use various die per class:
Level  HD
1       8 6 4
2       7 5 3
3       6 4 2
4       5 3 1
5       4 2 1
6       3 2 1
7       3 2 1
8       3 2 1
9        . . .
10      . . .
11      . . .

Not appropriate for d6. Another option with which I have experimented is a d3 for all classes, and then a bonus of +1, +2, or +3 to the roll depending on class. It adds slight variation while keeping a slight spread.

In the past while using these rules I hadn't considered the situation where some say having only 1 HP changes the way a player controls the character. I have an appreciation for this type of thinking. I have played in some 2ed games where I had rolled an 8 high for attributes, but was still allowed to play a fighter only to roll a 3 for HP. It does change the way one approaches decision making.

[busman]

Red Baron, You could have players have a physical d6 for each HD and one for fractional. If they lose an HD over the course of a battle then they don't have it roll in the next one, until they've properly rested or been cured. To be cruel, you'd have them lose HPs from the lowest dice first, to be nice from the highest first.