Ability Scores (Heroic Array)

[Technik4]

Or do you think they wouldn't play?

I agree that 32 PB makes for some good heroes. However, an array using 32 PB is not as powerful as 32 PB because it is not flexible. For now, I have stat'd out eight 2nd level characters using the 'Heroic Array'. All of this is in a notebook, when I transfer it to my computer, I may fiddle with the ability scores again. So far, in all but one of the characters have I put the 11 not in Wisdom or Charisma (the Magister akin to D&D Wizard has an 11 Str).

These are the classes/ability scores:

Giant Warmain 2 [18,12,15,13,12,11]
Sibeccai Oathsworn 2 [14,16,17,10,13,11]
Loresong Faen Mageblade 2 [13,16,13,14,11,14]
Quickling Faen Unfettered 2 [13,18,12,14,11,13]

Dracha Racial 2 [17,14,16,12,16,9]
Dracha Champion 2 [15,16,14,14,11,11]
Mojh Runethane 2 [12,14,13,18,13,11]
Mojh Magister 2 [11,13,14,17,12,14]

Mental scores almost always get relegated to lower ability scores beacuse Im pre-generating characters for my players to use as PCs, or perhaps later for my own use as NPCs. The Faen are closely related, which is why their abilities are so similar. Also, there are 2 of each Dracha and Mojh because I plan on running Ruins of Intrigue, and the first 4 are more likely to side with Giants, while the second 4 are more likely to side with the Dragons. I am going to make 5 more characters who have a more 'neutral' predilection towards things (mostly so I've stat'd at least 1 of each of the AE classes). Of course, if someone is gung-ho for a mixed party, that can work too.

Technik

 

[ThirdWizard]

I agree that 32 PB makes for some good heroes. However, an array using 32 PB is not as powerful as 32 PB because it is not flexible.

Very true. Your array comes out in power only slightly better than a 32 point buy, actually, because of all the odd scores you gave. Of course, they can be increased sooner, but that in itself discourages dumping all level bonuses to ability scores into one stat to a degree.

I say they are roughly equivalent because you have:

16 +3
15 +2
14 +2
13 +1
12 +1
11 +0

and with a 32 buy you could make

16 +3
14 +2
14 +2
12 +1
12 +1
10 +0

So the difference is in 8 levels, the first array could be upped to two +3s and two +2s, whereas the second one would require two points to raise either a 14 to a 16 or a 12 to a 14. In exchange, the point buy character could cusomize at creation, where you might have a 20 by level 8 (or 22 with racial bonuses) - though at a very high price to pay.


As for lowering an 11 to a 7 to raise a 16 to a 18, I would say instead make it a 16 to a 17, as you are trading in 4 points for 6 poins the first way and 4 points for 3 the second. Which makes since, since you are supposed to be giving up customization using an array. Alternately, you can instad lower the array by, say, 3 or 4 point buy points, then let them roll 1d6 and let them adjust accordingly to give them some leeway with their own designs.

 

[Bront]

I've never been a huge fan of the point buy system and have used a 1 for 1 buy from 0 system. One GM I've played with setup a 5x5 matrix of stats and had us choose a coordinate, so we had a random set within a confined setup. In my next campaign, I created 8 different stat sets, and am letting the players choose from one of them.

Generaly, we play with high stat characters. It takes a little bit of adjusting, but it gives the characters a very heroic feel. However, stat-adjusting magic items tend to be fewer and farther between , so that tends to balance out a bit.

 

[Elwood]

I don't think Technik's array is all that high powered. I've never played in a campaign where we used the PB described by others. If we did use a point-buy system it was just a maximum to the sum of the ability scores. In that case the point cap was usually about 75. This did allow for some fairly blatant min-maxing but most players were more interested in taking fairly moderate scores with perhaps one high and one low score to build their character concept around. I was the player most guilty of min-maxing and I was always content if I had one ability of 16.

I calculated the probability distributions for ability score totals when I was taking a statistics class in college. Assuming a player rolls just six times, then the mean total for the 4d6 system is about 73, the mean for the 3d6 system is 63, and the mean for the Conan heroic system (1d10+8) is 81. Technik's array of 72 is slightly below average on the basis of just the sum of the scores, although I do realize that the makeup of the ability scores and not just their sum is important as well.

 

[arscott]

Actually technik's is 81, not 72. That's Conan. And I'm going to hazard a guess that the Conan stats are designed to make up for the low-magic aspect and general harshenss of the setting.

 

[Ogre Mage]

Your array is 36 points but since it is an array and not true point buy, it is, as others have said, less powerful, probably equivalent to about 34 PB. That's still pretty strong, so you'll want to consider encounters accordingly.

 

[Elwood]

Actually technik's is 81, not 72. That's Conan. And I'm going to hazard a guess that the Conan stats are designed to make up for the low-magic aspect and general harshenss of the setting.

I am mathematically challenged tonight it would appear. With 81 total points that puts Technik's array in the 86th percentile for the 4d6 method which is indeed a little high for standard D&D. And yes, Conan is a very low magic, high damage system so the ability scores tend to be higher to compensate. In this respect I think it's similar to the old Dark Sun setting. I've never seen AE so I don't know if that setting warrants higher average ability scores.

I've always thought characters should be matched to the type of campaign being played. Truly heroic campaigns should have heroic-powered PC's, while less epic campaigns need less powerful characters. I once played in a campaign where the DM had us roll 4d6 eight times keeping the six best rolls. Any roll with three 1's equalled 19 and three 2's equalled 20. NPC's were usually even more powerful. Of course some objectives for the campaign included exploring the Temple of Elemental Evil, defeating a lich-king bent on conquering our homeland, and killing the tarrasque! Low powered characters were unlikely to last long and high-powered characters died fairly frequently, but we had a blast.

My advice, Technik, is similar to others. Use any abililty score system you and your players are comfortable with and just adapt the campaign until they find it challenging.