D&D 5E Point buy vs roll

[Maxperson]

I've got to hand it to all the players that don't mind when someone else at the table averages a +2 bonus better across every ability. I'm kind of jealous. I think it would start to annoy me.

I can't remember when I last saw a PC with +2 average across the board. Average 14+ on every stat is very, very unlikely

 

[pukunui]

Had to vote “other” because:

For my games, I give my players a choice of either point buy or the standard array. I believe the DM for the game I play in only uses the latter.

Haven’t rolled stats in years!

 

[Maxperson]

I ran it again 10,000 times, just to get the average difference per table of 6. On average there was around a 25 point difference. I picked a sample at random:

20 point buy: 15, 13, 13, 10, 8, 7​

45 point buy: 17, 14, 14, 14, 13, 12​

The 20 point buy PC isn't horrible, but they will always be significantly behind the curve of the guy that got 45 points. I'm sure if I cherry picked at all I could find something worse. Also remember this is just average.

No, they really won't be significantly behind the guy that got 45 points. That guy with 45 has bonuses in multiple stats that he doesn't need. It helps a small bit with a +2 or something to a skill roll where he doesn't get proficiency, but that's not a heck of a lot.

PC #1 has +2 to +3 in his prime stat, and PC #2 has +3 to +4 in his prime stat. Their class abilities are going to be comparable.

 

[Parmandur]

In a secondary, support role. As the primary class I maintain that 14(+2) is where the baseline seems to be.

Maybe ideally, but the ge would work just fine with 13s like in that table.

 

[Parmandur]

I went with point buy after I came back from 2e (to 4e). I just didn’t want to deal with the hassle of players showing up with a PC that had rolled multiple 18s (sure you did). My rule was rolling in front of each other - but it made for some awkward conversations.

Maybe it's the people I game with, but we usually roll at home with nobody watching, and the numbers aren't unexpected or suspicous?

 

[Cadence]

Maybe it's the people I game with, but we usually roll at home with nobody watching, and the numbers aren't unexpected or suspicous?

The bottom end being rerolled would
explain not running into big stat differences between the top and bottom characters (of course so would just not caring about big differences, which seems to be the case at your table).

 

[Parmandur]

The bottom end being rerolled would
explain not running into big stat differences between the top and bottom characters (of course so would just not caring about big differences, which seems to be the case at your table).

I've always played pretty in pretty chill and goofy groups looking to have a fun time and hang out with friends while earing some nice food and enjoying some adult beverages.

 

[Li Shenron]

It's true that it's one of the drawbacks of really unbalanced stats if the DM does not make sure to compensate (and once more this is not an inherent flaw of any system, there are so many sources of unbalance between characters - if only due to the players themselves - that there WILL be unbalance and it's the DM's job to deal with it, hopefully with the players' help as well if they are mature about that).

Mmm... yes there are other sources of unbalance but as a DM I'd rather deal with a player that complains we don't have enough of their favored terrain/foes, or that they don't have a good amounts of rests, or that they need more magic items of a certain kind, or that I am neglecting one of the pillars (I can easily find ways to compensate in next adventure at the latest) than with a player that believes their starting stats put them forever at disadvantage from the other players.

At least I would nevermore force a player to roll stats and HP, or any other permanent characteristic. If someone wants to roll fine, I'll let them, but there is still a chance that if they're very lucky everybody else will be frustrated.

 

[Li Shenron]

For the record,, this ia all thst is needed to be effective in each Class, from the SRD:

Class	Ability Score Minimum
Barbarian	Strength 13
Bard	Charisma 13
Cleric	Wisdom 13
Druid	Wisdom 13
Fighter	Strength 13 or Dexterity 13
Monk	Dexterity 13 and Wisdom 13
Paladin	Strength 13 and Charisma 13
Ranger	Dexterity 13 and Wisdom 13
Rogue	Dexterity 13
Sorcerer	Charisma 13
Warlock	Charisma 13
Wizard	Intelligence 13

I played Wizards with Intelligence 8 and they were effective. The real gimp was being able to prepare only 1 spell until level 3, but if the DM allows to buy scrolls the lack of spells variety can be mitigated.

 

[Parmandur]

I played Wizards with Intelligence 8 and they were effective. The real gimp was being able to prepare only 1 spell until level 3, but if the DM allows to buy scrolls the lack of spells variety can be mitigated.

Yeah, the Rincewood type can still contribute.