Level Adjustment Point Buy Equivalencies

[Lonely Tylenol]

I few days ago someone posted a list of point buy values that could be used by characters of various level adjustments at first level so that everyone started at level 1 on an equal playing field. I don't think that's based on the RAW anywhere, but I wanted to know if anyone actually uses such a method. If you do, what values have worked well for you? What is a level worth in point buy? What is a level adjustment worth?

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Sounds quite interesting.

I can, in fact, see this as the future of level adjustment:

Instead of level adjustment being an extra level, it's a certain number of points you get less for point buy.

Humans are +-0
Dwarves -3
Aasimars -4
Goliaths -6
(Just some numbers pulled out of thin air)

It might even replace negative ability mods - so instead of -2 con, elves get -1 for their point buy.


It would allow a lot more precision than the system we have now.

 

[shmoo2]

This has been discussed before, such as this thread and this one.

Seems like LA+1 should have 7-15 or so fewer points for ability buys.

 

[frankthedm]

Well considering Elite ability scores add one to a CR, the reverse might be semi reasonable to buy off a LA.

Whatever the point buy difference between 25 point buy 15, 14, 13, 12, 12, 8 is from monster manual base 11, 10, 11, 10, 11, 10, gets taken off the top from the characters point value.

It sounds reasonable and is a good way to shut up those who piss and moan saying there is an unfair difference between HD, CR and LA.

 

[TheGogmagog]

I know I would take a +1 LA in exchange for +4, +3, +2, +2, +2, -2.
It's hard to relate this to point buy since +4 on a 16 is something different than +4 to an 11.

The Elite vs base argument comes to a 14 point difference if I added them up right (I don't think I did).
I would probably take a +1 LA for an additional 14 points in point buy, but would not do the opposite to negate a measly +1LA race.

PS, what's with the penalty to play dwarf? Something campaign specific?

 

[Pyrex]

PS, what's with the penalty to play dwarf? Something campaign specific?

It's because Dwarf is (mechanically speaking) the most powerful race in the PHB.

If Human is the gold-standard of LA+0, Dwarf is about LA+0.5, and Half-Elf would be about LA-0.33.

However, there is no built-in concept of negative LA, or fractional LA.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

PS, what's with the penalty to play dwarf? Something campaign specific?

More rules specific: They're almost too powerful for LA +0. They were quite powerful in 3.0, and 3.5 boosted them further (more so than other races that were already falling behind).

With a more smooth adjustment system, you could balance the races out.

Right now, I'm trying out several things: In my last campaign, I made dwarves small (with the size bonus, the penalty to grapple, and smaller weapons).

For my next campaign, I'll just give them -2 Dex in addition to -2 Cha, in addition to the boosts other races receive (+2 Cha for elves and half-elves, for example, as well as weapon familiarity all around, including humans)