1st Level Character : score of 20 ?

[toxicspirit]

I'd never use a 17 (or a 15 or a 19) in any build that I can imagine. There are better places to put those points if you aren't going for the 20.

For an Archer-Ranger or a Wizard, I'd almost always go for the 20 (in Dex and Int respectively), with a 16 in Wisdom as a secondary stat if possible. For almost anything else, it just isn't worth the cost.

 

[jinx crossbow]

Right answer: Oui!
Don't to mistake with: No.

 

[KarinsDad]

I'd never use a 17 (or a 15 or a 19) in any build that I can imagine. There are better places to put those points if you aren't going for the 20.

For an Archer-Ranger or a Wizard, I'd almost always go for the 20 (in Dex and Int respectively), with a 16 in Wisdom as a secondary stat if possible. For almost anything else, it just isn't worth the cost.

19 16 14 10 10 8 is a fine array (or 19 14 14 10 10 8 human) because it has 3 solid stats for the 3 defenses and for 14 levels out of 30, it gives this PC +1 to his main attribute over PCs with a max score of 18. This is solid. It also has the advantage of increasing some ability score every single time they are raised.

 

[Atlatl Jones]

Dreadfully expensive .. but worth it for some builds.
Rogue or Ranger (ranged weapons) use one stat for attack, damage, as well as reflex, AC, and initiative.
Other classes are somewhat less able to specialise (though builds with a 20 can still work well enough).

Wizards also benefit a lot from a maxed-out Intelligence. They use it for all their attacks, damage, reflex, and AC, as well as their Arcana skill for rituals. Aside from Intelligence, Wizards benefit from a moderate Wisdom for some of their spells (especially if have orb mastery), and benefit from putting 12 into Charisma so they can get spell focus at 11th level.

 

[Tony Vargas]

Aside from Intelligence, Wizards benefit from a moderate Wisdom for some of their spells (especially if have orb mastery), and benefit from putting 12 into Charisma so they can get spell focus at 11th level.

And Staff Wizards benefit from CON for that implement's hit-negation ability (and it also boosts FORT, hps, & healing surges), while Wand Wizards use DEX to power thier implement encounter ability (and it also gives them an initiative bonus).

 

[Enthralled]

As this is slightly on topic here I thought I would ask.

If you reduce a 10 to a 9 do you gain 1 point? The table in the PHB seems to imply that with a -1 but I can see no clear text to back that up.

The other reading of that would say that as the table does not show anything lower than a 9 you are not supposed to ever lower the starting spread.

 

[Zurai]

You cannot lower your stats, only raise them.

Though if you ask nicely, your DM will probably let you lower your stats for no benefit.

 

[Unearthly]

You can't reduce your stats below the starting 10x5, 8 array. You can only have 1 stat below 10.

 

[Particle_Man]

Yeah that is just to show that you can raise the 8 stat *to* 9 (or 10) and once it is at 10 (and you want to get it even higher), then pay what you would have paid to raise any stat of 10 above 10.

 

[Goumindong]

Wizards also benefit a lot from a maxed-out Intelligence. They use it for all their attacks, damage, reflex, and AC, as well as their Arcana skill for rituals. Aside from Intelligence, Wizards benefit from a moderate Wisdom for some of their spells (especially if have orb mastery), and benefit from putting 12 into Charisma so they can get spell focus at 11th level.

And 14 dex for both quickdraw(another +2 init), and Arcane Reach which needs 15 dex and is great.