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Message: <blockquote data-quote="argo" data-source="post: 2485672" data-attributes="member: 5752"><shrug>I really don't think that either system is inherently superior to the other.  However I do think that both systems have very different impacts on the game, to the point that a game will feel totally different depending on which you choose.Pros: Classes-Easy to build/advance characters.  Not just because most people are familiar with classes from DnD but because you are basically using "off the shelf" pre-packaged sets of abilities.-Strongly reinforces archtypes: this is good for giving a campaign a coherent flavor and/or emulating a favorite genre.-Strongly reinfroces roles within the group: this is good for a game built on player cooperation and teamwork.-Strongly reinforces specialization: this is good for making sure that each player has "a moment to shine". Cons: Classes-Can become constraining if you want to build a character who breaks the mold of the established classes.  Multi-classing and more "generic" classes alleviate this problem somewhat but only to an extent.-Can easily over-emphasize the weaknesses of certain archtypes.  "So, why can't my Fighter learn to apply battlefield first-aid?"-Just generally offers fewer options than a point-buy character creation system.Pros: Point-buy-Offers as many options as the player and GM have creativity.  Mix-n-match abilities to build the character you envision.-Easy to add new abilities; simply assign an appropriate cost as compared with the existing set of abilities.-Theoretically ensures characters will be unique and distinctive.-Theoretically offers the GM great potential to invent unusual custom NPC's.Cons: Point-buy-Too many options can stifle creativity: players may be lost without direction or may all end up picking the most potent abilities (and thus be too similar).-Generally speaking is more prone to powergamming abuses than a class system (espically if you start messing around with "defects").-May be more work for the GM to develop NPC's than in a class system (not always true).-Just generally is more complicated than a class system.One more thing to consider.  If you are looking to build your own system there are more class based OGL resources to raid than point-buy based.  Off the top of my head the only point-buy OGL systems I can think of are Big Eyes Small Mouth d20 (very good game) and By the Numbers (havent' read it).Hope that helps.</blockquote>

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