Has Point Buy become standard? What Points?

[LCHARLEQUIN]

Has point buy become the standard method of determining Ability
Stats?

If so what are the recomended point buys for different levels of play?

Those famliliar with RPGA Living Campaigns have made characters
with the point buy being:

Start at 8 for all stats
from 9-14 1 buy point per stat point
15 and 16 are 2 buy points per stat point
17 and 18 are 3 buy points per stat point.

Racial adjustments are added after the buy.

The D&D Campaigns ( Green regent, Eberron, and Xendrix )are a 25 point buy.
Living Greyhawk is a 28 point buy.
The venerable Living City as well as Living Arcanis and Dave Arnesons
Blackmoor use a 32 point buy.
Legend of the Shining Jewel has a 34 point buy.

Do you still roll for abilities? Do you assign points to your
abilities and, if so, what is the recomended point levels and formula?

Thanks,
Charles

 

[psionotic]

The default stat generation is now the standard array:
16, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10.

Second method listed is point buy. 22 points, starting scores are:
10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 8.

9-14 cost 1 per, 15 costs 7, 16 costs 9, 17 costs 12, 18 costs 16.

Third method listed is 4d6, drop lowest.

(I know a bastage die.com-er, and am poring over the phb right now...)

 

[Pabloj]

Are you sure? Someone told me the book specifies you can choose whatever method you prefer (I guess checking with the DM beforehand never hurts), and that the default array being presented first does not imply it is the default way.

 

[LCHARLEQUIN]

Thank you very much

Thank you for your very fast reply.

Waiting for Amazon to send thenew books whenothers
have access is frustrating but good communication helps ease
the sting.

.

9-14 cost 1 per, 15 costs 7, 16 costs 9, 17 costs 12, 18 costs 16.

I assume that the quoted buy price supposes that the
stat to be raised over 14 started at 10. Correct/Incvorrect

Thanks,
Charles

 

[psionotic]

L: Yes, it costs two points to buy that lone eight up to a ten, afterwhich you can pay the default cost to up it to something else.

Pabloj: Actually, you're right. It *doesn't* say that the first option is the default, its simply listed as "Method 1."

 

[Ark Evensong]

The default stat generation is now the standard array:
16, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10.

Second method listed is point buy. 22 points, starting scores are:
10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 8.

9-14 cost 1 per, 15 costs 7, 16 costs 9, 17 costs 12, 18 costs 16.

Unless I've been misinformed, I'm pretty sure the increased-cost jump starts at 14. That is, 9-13 cost 1 per, 14-16 cost 2 per, 17 costs 3, and 18 costs a whopping 4. No more +2 modifier spamming (well, less. I suppose.)

(1-1) 1-1-1-2-2-2-3-4, as opposed to
(1-1) 1-1-1-1-3-2-3-4

-Ark Evensong, "Not as much 14-spamming"

 

[LEHaskell]

Unless I've been misinformed, I'm pretty sure the increased-cost jump starts at 14. That is, 9-13 cost 1 per, 14-16 cost 2 per, 17 costs 3, and 18 costs a whopping 4. No more +2 modifier spamming (well, less. I suppose.)

(1-1) 1-1-1-2-2-2-3-4, as opposed to
(1-1) 1-1-1-1-3-2-3-4

-Ark Evensong, "Not as much 14-spamming"

That would make sense: then the 16 14 13 12 11 10 array actually costs the standard 22 points.

 

[Aservan]

Does any one know why they upped the costs to get higher stats? Do they really hate higher stats?

If the math is so robust then why does a linear system need higher stats to cost so much more? Shouldn't things scale on their own?

My guess would be to eliminate the cliche that every fighter has an 18 str, and to simulate the idea that higher stats are harder to roll. Still the upshot is that characters in my experience tend towards the middle or to the extremes. In other words all stats around 14 or one 18 and lots of tens.

 

[KKDragonLord]

Actually, from the Players Handbook
8 (-2)
9 (-1)
10 0
11 1
12 2
13 3
14 5
15 7
16 9
17 12
18 16

And yeah, the standard is 22 points.

 

[Mort_Q]

There are no stat boosting spells or items, but you get more stat boosts more often when you level.

If you really must start out with a 20 in your primary stat, you need to pay for it.

Works for me.