What to do when the character's ability scores exceeds the limit?

Decamber · Feb 5, 2002

Hello all!

What do you do when your character is a Mike Tyson with the intelligence as Hannibal and charisma as Kasparov, whilst the ability method is point-buy of 32 points? That's were I am now; My character is a native from Chult whose size equals a pro-boxer - lacking a neck, of course.

He is extremely intelligent, and a master of psychology and the body language. Have you ever seen Garry Kasparov playing a game of chess? He psychs his opponents by looking at them with a half-opened mouth. My character does that while in combat to gain advantage. When he has it, he slashes the enemy in pieces in a fierceful rage with his two knives!

These stats fits my picture of him:

STR 16
DEX 14
CON 16
INT 16
WIS 10
CHA 15

But that's rather high - especially using 32 points.

Any ideas? By what you know, do you think I could lower any stats but still fulfill my demands?

Thanks in advance!

reveal · Feb 5, 2002

Um... Your stats are not right for the 32-point buy method. Even if you're not human, they're extremely high. If you are human, the only way you can get the stats listed is with 46 points.

Decamber · Feb 5, 2002

reveal said:
Um... Your stats are not right for the 32-point buy method. Even if you're not human, they're extremely high. If you are human, the only way you can get the stats listed is with 46 points.

I know, that's the point.

Re-read my post and you'll see.

Left-handed Hummingbird · Feb 5, 2002

What to do? Rethink your character concept. Or just accept that if you want a character with no low scores, he/she won't have any high scores either.

Thorntangle · Feb 5, 2002

Sometimes your vision must be compromised because of the tyranny of game mechanics

Psionicist · Feb 5, 2002

Left-handed Hummingbird said:
What to do? Rethink your character concept. Or just accept that if you want a character with no low scores, he/she won't have any high scores either.

I did that for my character in the same campaign

He used to have stats like this:
Str 8
Dex 8
Con 8
Int 18
Wis 8
Cha 12

But he is very weak even after the mod, like this.:

Str 8
Dex 8
Con 8
Int 18
Wis 16
Cha 14

So, if I can higher my score for a gnome diviner then you can lower your score for a brute

Zappo · Feb 5, 2002

HI, Decamber! I dunno why, but all your threads regularly interest me.

First of all - is this a 1st level character? If not, which level is he? I ask this because of the stat increases at 4th, 8th and so.

Since you are using two knives, I think Ambidexterity should be one of the feats you are going to get, but for this you are going to need a 15 DEX. A 15 costs 2 points more than a 14, and doesn't even really fit the character concept much, so you could just buy the last point at 4th. With a fighter, you would also get your free feat - Ambidexterity.

I would lower Charisma. The character as you describe him doesn't seem an all-round charismatic type; his force is somewhat specialized. For this reason, I'd lower CHA to 12 and max out Intimidate/Bluff.

This leaves us with 20 points for the other four stats. Pretty much impossible. I can understand it - an extremely intelligent and charismatic pro-boxer that is dextrous enough to use two weapons effectively would be the target of envy even IRL.

My suggestion is to drop the dual-wielding thing and place a 10 in DEX. At this point we have 24 points for STR, CON and INT. My suggestion is 16 STR, 14 CON and 15 INT.

Decamber · Feb 5, 2002

Hi Zappo,
It's a first level character. It seems that you have catched my concept pretty well! I think I'll do as you wrote - that match my picture of the character. Thank you!

Zappo said:
HI, Decamber! I dunno why, but all your threads regularly interest me.

Hehe, actually I've though the same about you, but replies. I like your replies quite in general, except to my threads!

You're going to my buddy list, pal!

Frostmarrow · Feb 5, 2002

One option could be to create a template with boni to the stats. Weigh the value of the stat increases against the half-celestial and half-fiendish templates. From there figure out what level the character is supposed to start at. You know a half-celestial human with one fighter level is effectively a 4th level character.