Point-based character creation

[Kzach]

In an attempt to marry GURPS concepts with 4e D&D, I'd like to discuss point-based character creation.

Why should orcs be the only race of savage warriors? Who says you can't push around an elf? What if I like the idea of a drunken dwarf? Why is my human less lucky than a halfling?

I'm just wondering how viable it would be to assign points to all the racial, and hell, even class, abilities. As an experiment I'd like to see people's examples or suggestions or ideas on how to implement this as I'm keen to do it myself, but want to hear what other people think first.

 

[Garthanos]

I like mix and match the presentation and mechanics but a step further would be nice too. For instance I want to use the deva memories feature in place of the warforged come back burst... The game as it stands is not even written to enable the kind of hot swapping I am talking about. Class features for instance are in place to compensate for other requirements of the class ... they wouldnt be appropriate combined with other things because they would become overly useful. The eladrin have two reflex stats that are very redundant (not completely but .. ) so I bet some of the features of the race are meant as compensation ... putting numbers on synergy effects is... crazy hard. That said more power to ya I am curious what you can come up with.

HERO is a point based game where things are costed closer to there combat advantage This makes it a tighter model than GURPS for a D&D by point buy in my opinion. For instance in GURPS being ageless would cost you up the yin yang... where as in HERO it costs you only a point or three because aging attacks are fairly rare...see the difference.