Hit Points

Clerics and Druids receive 8-sided dice for hit point progression (see Player'sHandbook, Chapter Two). The cleric does a lot of fighting, and the druid has a very demanding existence, living as he does in the wilderness; both need to have comparatively high hit point totals.

The DM can, if he wishes, make any priesthood of a specific mythos take six-sided dice for hit points (like rogues) or even four-sided dice (like wizards). But this is only appropriate for priestly orders which are not very demanding physically.

Most priesthoods should have eight-sided dice for hit points. If a DM decides that a priesthood will have less robust dice, then he must compensate the priesthood with enhanced access to spells and (especially) numerous Granted Powers (discussed below).

A priesthood should only receive six-sided dice if it has medium to poor combat abilities, and belongs to a deity with very few physical demands.

For example, a god of dawn has no intrinsic orientation toward combat, and "dawn" does not imply any specific physical demands.

A priesthood should only receive four-sided dice if it has poor combat abilities, and belongs to a deity whose attribute implies soft living.

For example, a god of peace or love could have priests with little or no combat abilities and with four-sided dice. However, it's important to note that this does not have to be the case . . . It is only the case when the DM insists upon it. Priests of the god of peace could be pacifists, but still be good at combat . . . which they may only employ in self-defense. A god of love noted for weapons use, as Eros was noted for his archery, could have priests who specialized in that weapon, and would not have to be stuck with a measly 1d4 for hit points.

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