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

[KYRON45]

You're not picking up what I'm laying down. No one, especially me, is telling you what your fun should look like. What folks are telling you is that your view is not a universal view. That's the glossing over bit I'm talking about.

The reactions you're getting are because of this post of yours. Of course everyone's view of fun is different. Read your post again.

"Sorry friend. I roll a PC and I make the most of it.

I just don't see the value in "balanced".
If every PC is GREAT then none of them are.
I believe the kids call this diversity."

Kind of dismissive of any viewpoint but your own right? No one's upset, but that's the card you played, hence the reactions.

What folks are telling you is that there is nothing wrong with the way you play. Aspects of it both objectively and subjectively can and do hinder the fun for others though.

Does anyone here really think their view is universal?
How anything I say can adversely affect the fun of others is beyond my capability to understand.
Me not agreeing is not me arguing.
Thank you. Have a happy New Year.

 

[Lanefan]

The problem is that this is not one of those cases where if the wants are strong, you can have it both ways. If the game system actually rewards high rolls and punishes low ones, a system that provides point distribution for people who don't want that isn't going to solve the problem used in conjunction with a random one, unless the latter compresses the result.

So, yet again, it's the roller who has to compromise rather than the point-buyer.

Got it.

 

[AlViking]

So, yet again, it's the roller who has to compromise rather than the point-buyer.

Got it.

Until you can explain what you gain from rolling that you can't get from somen variation of point buy other than 3 minutes of gambling, yes.

I'm not saying you shouldn't roll, I don't care. But I also think that point buy should be the default unless everyone strongly expresses a desire for rolling.

 

[Thomas Shey]

I would walk away from that game.

Eh. People have been used to D&D forcing combat to one degree or another on every character for decades. I don't see it as intrinsically any worse to force some capability in other spheres.

 

[Thomas Shey]

So, yet again, it's the roller who has to compromise rather than the point-buyer.

Got it.

I'd say the real answer is there is no useful compromise within a single play group. The desires are simply incompatible.

Now within a game system I find no really credible reason not provide both options unless you're sure your market simply doesn't care about one of them (as is the case with most superhero gamers). It may be other elements of the game system make one or the other impractical, but that's a different issue.