Troll Lord Games

For me it depends on how tough the PC's are. If they have been rolling well for their HP, have good AC's, or both I'll just give them 80 to 90% of their max HP possible.

If they have been rolling average, I give average.

So how many of you actually roll, and stick with what is rolled?

There is supposed to be a third option, which shows up when in editing, but dissappears when I "post".

If I run a module, and the party seems to be on par in terms of the various challenges presented, then I will leave them as is.

If I want to make it tougher (for whatever reason), I will typically max out the hit points of some of the encounters.

Moriarty the Red
_________________
"You face Death itself in the form of... 1d4 Tarrasques!"

Partner to Brave Halfling Publishing
http://www.arcanacreations.com

You have to click on that "Add Entry" button next to the each poll entry in order for it to show up when you post. I've made that mistake as well, forgetting to click that button on the last entry.

In any case, I roll hit points for the monsters. I figure, if the PCs have to roll, so do the monsters. If I roll low, well, that's reason for me to have the monsters think a bit more (if they're capable of it), rather than just use brute force in their attacks.

I mix it up. I will usually roll, but sometimes I just wing it depending on how good or bad the PCs are doing to keep the encounters interesting.

I have been averaging out the Hit Points just on the plus side of what the the average hit points for an opponent would be. Except for PC Class Villains, then I follow the same rules I give to the PCs.

1st level is max hit points and then roll for hit points every level thereafter, unless I want the PC Class villain to be really challenging, then I bump up the rolls by a hit point or two, but no higher than the max hit points possible per level.
_________________
Earned the following:

50 Useless Trivia Points from Serleran

I roll each and every time. I rarely bump them or lower them.

davis

I roll the nemey HP almost all of the time. I always roll the HP when planning encounters ahead of time, before the game. During encounters where I have no prep (like randome encounters) I;ve been known to wing it. I still typically roll whenever possible.

It is so cool to see one golbin with 1 HP and another with 6HP... It just makes so much awesome sense. 8)

..........................................Omote

FPQ
_________________
> Omote's Advanced C&C stuff <
Duke Omote Landwehr, Holy Order of the FPQ ~ Prince of the Castles & Crusades Society

If it's a monster with a bunch of HD, I usually just give it the average (though I might roll, if I feel like it). For low HD creatures, I sometimes roll but sometimes just give them all a set amount near the average.

I mostly got into the averages thing with 3E. Maybe when I get around to running C&C I'll go back to rolling more often, since prep will be so much easier.
_________________
"I despise all weavers of the black arts. Speaking of which, can you pass the gravy?"

----------

"I didn't know there would be this much talking."

I roll. For groups, I may roll for a common group.

Modules, I usually use the posted HP.

I roll beforehand using a dice roller software but both PCs and NPCs/creatures get more than half the amount of HPs on their HD (for example, rolling 1-2 gives 4 HPs, 3-4 gives 5 HPs and 5-6 gives 6 HPs on 1d6).
_________________
"Abandon the search for Truth; settle for a good fantasy." author unknown
My C&C Page
My House Rules v8

I give em max HP only cause im a meanie.
_________________
"We'll go out through the kitchen!" Tanis Half-Elven

Peter Bradley

I normally assign HPs.
_________________
Never throw rocks at a man with a Vorpal Sword!

If I have the prep time, I roll all HPs. If not, I just use the average.

R-
_________________
Rigon o' the Lakelands, Baron of The Castles & Crusades Society
The Book of the Mind

HP = max x 1.5. Always.

I always max the HP if I have a party of 5-6.

Instead of going beyond their stated max hp for a large party of 8-10. I just simply double the number of monsters.

Which sometimes mean 50 orcs (literally) vs 10 PCs....but that battle sure was fun last week. Failing a tumble check was not good for the rogue....
_________________
Big Iron Vault Your friendly neighbourhood gaming magazine. Check out our new webcomic, The Heindrich Project!

Treebore wrote:
There is supposed to be a third option, which shows up when in editing, but dissappears when I "post".

Ah yeah, we probably need that option. Why not edit yer post?
_________________
Count Rhuveinus - Lejendary Keeper of Castle Franqueforte

"Enjoy a 'world' where the fantastic is fact and magic really works!" ~ Gary Gygax

"By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes:" - Macbeth

I usually go with the HP suggested in a mod or roll it for regular monsters, i.e. orcs, kobolds, goblins, etc.

But for lieutenants, captains or leaders, I'll beef up the HP making sure it's at the top end or plus 1 or 2. Basically, I like to have some flexibility when it comes to monsters and their level/experience/toughness.
_________________
Count Rhuveinus - Lejendary Keeper of Castle Franqueforte

"Enjoy a 'world' where the fantastic is fact and magic really works!" ~ Gary Gygax

"By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes:" - Macbeth

I did try to edit. The third option was there and filled in. But when I hit post it dissappeared.

Now that people have voted I cannot try anymore.

I set them depending on the circumstances to give an appropriate challenge. The guards in the hallway outside the orc chief's lair= max hp. The orc cook in the galley? 1 hp. Etc.

I usually use the same hp for all monsters in an encounter just because I'm lazy. Sometimes I'll vary them based on weapons groups. If some orcs carry bows and others spears, I assume the spearmen will have better hp.

BB

Every once in a while I roll them up because I'm feeling random, but 9 times out of time I assign accordingly.
_________________
CK the CK
"My goddess touched me at an early age."

-Grikis Valmorgen, Paladin

The beginnings of my homebrew campaign world and info for my play by chat game:
http://kbdekker.googlepages.com/home

Yes, I roll it, however, I hate it when a 3HD monster ends up with 3HP because the DM rolled poorly. Instead of 3d8HD, I would roll 3d6+6, essentially turning a d8 into a d6+2, turning d10 into d8+2, and d12 into d8+4. I want my monsters to have a good chance against the PCs!
_________________
Basic Action Games http://www.bashrpg.com

Check us out for free demos and downloads or visit us onFacebook.

I roll them. Adds to prep time, but keeps the PCs guessing.