Poiint buy arrays and

The PHB suggest a list of attribute arrays created using the point buy system. (Method 2 Customizing scores pg 17). Think about this it occurred to me that you could take this in a few directions.

Highest modifiers for your class related attributes.
Highest total number of modifiers.
Or something in between.

Below is a list of the arrays presented in the PHB created with the point buy method. I listed the total modifiers.

16 14 13 12 11 10 (+7)
14 13 13 13 13 13 (+7)
14 14 13 13 13 11 (+7)
14 14 14 12 12 11 (+8)
14 14 14 14 12 8 (+8)
15 14 13 12 12 11 (+7)
15 15 13 12 11 10 (+6)
16 15 12 11 11 10 (+6)
16 14 14 12 11 8 (+7)
16 16 12 10 10 10 (+7)
16 16 12 11 11 8 (+6)
17 15 12 11 10 8 (+5)
17 14 12 11 10 10 (+6)
18 13 13 10 10 8 (+5)
18 14 11 10 10 8 (+5)
18 12 12 10 10 10 (+6)

It seems that you can have higher attributes for in exchange for a less total modifiers. Or go for more total modifiers but lower maximum attribute.

For example: 14 14 14 12 12 11 (+8)
Here you get maximum modifiers. After the racial bonuses your maximum attributes would 16, 16 or 16, 14 if you were human.

Or: 18 14 11 10 10 8 (+5)
Here you have fewer modifiers. But, after racial bonuses your max attributes would be 20, 16, or 20, 14 if you were human.

Or maybe something inbetween: 16 16 12 10 10 10 (+7)
Here you could have two 18s, but the rest of your attributes would be average.

Let me note that I have yet to play 4e. I'm just making up some characters to play next weekend and these thoughts crossed my mind.

It seems the new rules really try to use all of your attributes.

Though, saves are the better of two, with this in mind you could try and maximize three attributes to generate the highest saves possible.

Something like: 16 14 14 12 11 8 (+7)
Could give you three 16s after the racial bonus. This would be a +3 on each of your saves.

I'm just brainstorming. Give me your thoughts.

PS. To be honest I like the old school roll your attributes. I was surprised the PHB said outright that they do not recommend this method.

soggybag said:

It seems that you can have higher attributes for in exchange for a less total modifiers. Or go for more total modifiers but lower maximum attribute.

Click to expand...

That is, in fact, the very point of the sloped cost.

Jack of all trades or Master of One becomes the question.

Depending on Class you can "easily" favour 3 attributes over the other 3, since you will use the 3 "step children" attributes almost never (unless you choose to skill away from your strengths) use them their bonuses really don't count.

So only looking at the three scores on the left is a better indicator of whre the "sweet spot" for point buy lies.

16 16 12 10 10 10 is the overall "best" array for a 3 score optimization.
16 14 14 12 11 8 is the best to be "balanced" yet end up with a high score.
Any of the ones with 18 are best for "focus fire" (read strikers) classes.

As much as looooove putting an 18 into a score, I do like the 14 14 14... arrays. With the racial mods, that gives you one or two 16s, and you probably qualify for any feat you're likely to take.

soggybag said:

Or: 18 14 11 10 10 8 (+5)
Here you have fewer modifiers. But, after racial bonuses your max attributes would be 20, 16, or 20, 14 if you were human.

Click to expand...

Alternately with that array, 18 16 13 10 10 8 after racial modifiers. This lets you have an 18 in your primary stat and play a class which doesn't align with your race.

Or maybe something inbetween: 16 16 12 10 10 10 (+7)
Here you could have two 18s, but the rest of your attributes would be average.

Click to expand...

I like 16 16 13 11 10 8 as a good general choice — the 13 qualifies you for feats.

PS. To be honest I like the old school roll your attributes. I was surprised the PHB said outright that they do not recommend this method.

Click to expand...

It's great for one shot adventures, if you do them frequently enough that getting unlucky and being stuck with bad rolls one night is balanced by the possibility of getting great rolls another time.

For a longer campaign, consider this: how about using point buy, and then handing everyone a d10 and telling them to roll it once, and then adding that result to every d20 roll you make for the whole next year of playing.

I seem to remember reading that you could not start with an attribute higher than 18 in 4e. But, I can't seem to find this in the PHB right now.

If this is not a limit you could easily make your prime attribute 20!

I wasn't aware that this was news.