D&D 5E (2014) Is Point Buy Balanced?

[Maxperson]

I just don't see the point of rolling if you don't really want random results anyway but that's just me.

Who said anything about not wanting random results? Not accepting piss poor stats doesn't mean that the rolled stats that aren't piss poor aren't random.

Meanwhile this thread is a discussion of balance. If you have a house rule that you use to ensure balance that's fine. But it is a house rule not an official one and has little to do with whether or not point buy is balanced.

Me and virtually everyone else who rolls. If almost everyone is ignoring a rule, it's not really a rule that has anything to do with anything.

 

[AlViking]

Who said anything about not wanting random results? Not accepting piss poor stats doesn't mean that the rolled stats that aren't piss poor aren't random.

Me and virtually everyone else who rolls. If almost everyone is ignoring a rule, it's not really a rule that has anything to do with anything.

All I am pointing out is that if you use 4d6dl as written the results can lead to significant imbalance on a regular basis. It's not just a point or two here and there.

I do not care how you or anyone else generates ability scores. I don't care that you don't follow the rules. I don't know how many people use it because when people use surveys on this forum (even if they were any reflection of the general populace) they say they do and then add qualifiers in their comments that they really don't.

I can guarantee that some people do follow the rule even if a player is unhappy with the result. I've seen responses when this comes up that "We all rolled in the open so it's fair." Other people claim that most games never last even a 5 sessions or that any individual character is not going last long anyway so it doesn't matter.

This is not a reflection on you or your preferences. What is the issue here?

 

[Maxperson]

All I am pointing out is that if you use 4d6dl as written the results can lead to significant imbalance on a regular basis. It's not just a point or two here and there.

For who? Almost no one uses it like you want to portray it.

I do not care how you or anyone else generates ability scores. I don't care that you don't follow the rules. I don't know how many people use it because when people use surveys on this forum (even if they were any reflection of the general populace) they say they do and then add qualifiers in their comments that they really don't.

I can guarantee that some people do follow the rule even if a player is unhappy with the result. I've seen responses when this comes up that "We all rolled in the open so it's fair." Other people claim that most games never last even a 5 sessions or that any individual character is not going last long anyway so it doesn't matter.

This is not a reflection on you or your preferences. What is the issue here?

There are exceedingly few DMs, even here, who want their players to be miserable.

 

[AlViking]

For who? Almost no one uses it like you want to portray it.

There are exceedingly few DMs, even here, who want their players to be miserable.

Like I said I was just discussing balance and the impact of signfiicantly different ability scores.

Meanwhile @Lanefan (correct me if I misunderstood!) said that if the character has a single 14, it's good. It's his game so his call.

 

[Maxperson]

Like I said I was just discussing balance and the impact of signfiicantly different ability scores.

Meanwhile @Lanefan (correct me if I misunderstood!) said that if the character has a single 14, it's good. It's his game so his call.

@Lanefan generally comes to these discussions from a 1e/2e perspective where bonuses didn't happen until 15+ anyway, and even then they weren't super high until 17 or 18. With racial bonuses(if any) you were lucky to get a +1 to a stat, so getting high numbers was uncommon. You kinda have to filter his comments through that lens and try not to apply it evenly to 5e.