Pathfinder 1E Pathfinder Character Creation: Point Buy or Roll of the Die?

[ShinHakkaider]

And if a player throws a hissy fit when you make them re-roll a set that's too high, then just look at them and say "GM".

Wait, I'm a player at your table and using the die rolling method that YOU as the DM use at your table IN FRONT OF YOu I roll, 18, 18, 14, 12, 10, 10.

All fair rolls, then you tell me that my rolls are too high and make me RE-ROLL my 18's?

Explain to me how that's remotely fair again? If that's the case then why dont you simply use stat array? I gotta say telling a player to re-roll fair rolls because they are too high is kind of a douchey GM thing to do.

 

[billd91]

Wait, I'm a player at your table and using the die rolling method that YOU as the DM use at your table IN FRONT OF YOu I roll, 18, 18, 14, 12, 10, 10.

All fair rolls, then you tell me that my rolls are too high and make me RE-ROLL my 18's?

Explain to me how that's remotely fair again? If that's the case then why dont you simply use stat array? I gotta say telling a player to re-roll fair rolls because they are too high is kind of a douchey GM thing to do.

I have to agree. It's totally not fair for the GM to lay out a method and then complain about its results because they're too good. As for me, I don't like the way point-buy can allow players to take single-attribute-dependent classes and deliberately pump up their offense above and beyond the ability of mulitple-attribute-dependent class players. So I don't use point-buy. I won't allow it and then make someone change their build because it was "too good".

 

[Roman]

I have to agree. It's totally not fair for the GM to lay out a method and then complain about its results because they're too good. As for me, I don't like the way point-buy can allow players to take single-attribute-dependent classes and deliberately pump up their offense above and beyond the ability of mulitple-attribute-dependent class players. So I don't use point-buy. I won't allow it and then make someone change their build because it was "too good".

I also agree with those sentiments. Although I technically follow DM/GM is always right philosophy, it only works well if the DM/GM is reasonable. As a DM/GM, I cannot even imagine springing something like this on my players. If they roll excellent stats, well, that's great. If they don't, well, that's too bad (though within the parameters I have set for stat rolling, they will never be too low). Those are the rules I set out at the outset and whereas I reserve the right to change them, to do so post-facto (i.e. after they roll) is just inappropriate in my opinion.

 

[CardboardTube Knight]

Most online games I have played thus far are stat arrays of the choosing of the DM. I think it works best.

 

[hopeless]

I wouldn't worry about it.
There's no problem with such a character after all if the player wants to run it, then let them.
And as for that remark about a charisma penalty, well thats part of the attraction showing it can be done whether its using the 4d6 discard the lowets die roll or using the point system.
Me I'm crazy enough to die roll on the point system, its not an ideal way to do it but its the way I like it and thats good enough for me!

 

[Papa-DRB]

From my perspective as a DM, even though I mentioned the two methods I use in a post above, my bottom line is I don't care what the PC stats are. You want everyone to have 18's across the board, fine by me. What is good for the PCs is good for the NPCs and bad guys.

My only concern is that I don't have one PC with all 18s and another PC having all 10s (yea, big exaggeration). I want the PCs to be the same initial power level so we don't have Joe, the whatever, out shining everyone in the party, or me having to up the bad guys so much to challenge Joe, that everyone else dies.

-- david
Papa.DRB

 

[ancientvaults]

I appreciate the replies, everyone.
For us, the 4d6, drop the lowest, assign as you will works well and I believe that all of the characters are pretty even for the most part, there were not particularly high or low rollers.

If anything, it was the shock that I was so wrong for allowing a dwarf to be a sorcerer because of the -2 to Charisma, as if that was a throw-away character. I don't think anyone should walk into a first level game as a powerhouse, you may become one in time, however. Nobody sitting at my table is promised an 18 in any attribute, it is all up to the roll of the die.

 

[DragonLancer]

I always go with 4D6 drop the lowest. It helps even out any low scores but keeps characters still random. I hate point buy systems because they tend to allow cookie cutter designs and builds.

 

[Walking Dad]

I always go with 4D6 drop the lowest. It helps even out any low scores but keeps characters still random. I hate point buy systems because they tend to allow cookie cutter designs and builds.

Question: Would you let me re-roll this?

Here my last rolled character (4d6, re-roll 1s):

(http://www.enworld.org/forum/5062594-post33.html)

Abilities (4d6.minroll(2).takeHighest(3)=10, 4d6.minroll(2).takeHighest(3)=13, 4d6.minroll(2).takeHighest(3)=13, 4d6.minroll(2).takeHighest(3)=12, 4d6.minroll(2).takeHighest(3)=11, 4d6.minroll(2).takeHighest(3)=10)

So: 10 ,13 , 13 , 12, 11, 10

... I prefer point buy.

 

[DragonLancer]

Question: Would you let me re-roll this?

Not without a very good reason. You're rolls there net a positive modifier. The character may not be shatteringly great but he is fine and playable. Over time he will improve. Not all characters need to have top line stats. it is a roleplaying game for a reason.