Point buy - How high do you go? (and why)

[Glyfair]

The recent comments on the threads discussing point buy has stirred my curiosity. Those of you that use the DMG point buy method, what point buy level to you use and why?

Personally, I think I've settled on a 28 point standard. I alway run a heroic game & I feel this simulates this the best. The 25 point level just isn't quite heroic enough for me. I've tried 32 point buy & it just seems too superheroic for my taste (although it's close).

Another thing I've noticed is that I seem to get the best character variation at this level. With 32 points, people tend to spread the stats around and have similiar levels. With 25 point buy, you can't afford not to focus on you key skills, and the stats seem to be similiar. However, with 28 you seem to be able to add to your key stats (as with 25) and have a few points to add "character." You don't have enough points to raise everything, though, so something usually suffers (at least a little).

Glyfair of Glamis

 

[pogre]

28 points as well.

For all the reasons you mentioned - I love the choices it forces.

 

[ph34r]

I don't play pointbuy.

 

[LGodamus]

I have never had a group that wanted to give point buy a fair shake so I couldnt say......

 

[Snoweel]

25 points because it is more heroic than higher amounts.

For true heroism, I'd go with 15-point, but I'd worry about the game becoming unbalanced.

 

[Eternalknight]

We normally roll, but on the odd occasion it has been point buy, it's 28 points.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

25 point buy.

- The core game is designed, balanced, and playtested at this point; variance in the way the game operates increases the farther you get from it. By using 25-point buy, you know you're operating the game within its optimal envelope, and no corrections or adjustments are required to use any existing products -- you don't have to increase the power of the monsters, or hand out more/less treasure, etc. Less work for the DM this way.

- The low point count forces choice -- you can't afford to be good at everything; you might manage to be slightly good at everything, or you can be great at one or two things, and have a corresponding weakness or two -- which makes for more interesting play.

- Heroism is about actions, not stats. It's not about being so much better than everyone else; it's about having the moral & intestinal fortitude to do those things that others won't. 25 points gives enough over everyday commoners to survive adventuring, while not being so powerful that characters are heroic just because they're supermen.

 

[Zappo]

25 point buy. All you have to do is wrap your mind around the fact that you don't have to have an 18 in your key stat, and that if you want to, it won't be for free.

Far too many times I've seen wizards putting 18 in INT without even thinking about it, and then complaining about not having points for the rest.
Dude, you don't have a divine right to an 18. You're asking for the best. Pay in blood.

A legacy from 2E, where without an 18 you were screwed, I guess.

 

[Snoweel]

All you have to do is wrap your mind around the fact that you don't have to have an 18 in your key stat, and that if you want to, it won't be for free.

Far too many times I've seen wizards putting 18 in INT without even thinking about it, and then complaining about not having points for the rest.
Dude, you don't have a divine right to an 18. You're asking for the best. Pay in blood.

A legacy from 2E, where without an 18 you were screwed, I guess.

Yep.

This is also the reason behind the thinking that a 14 is a crappy score.

I find with 25-point buy, that a spellcaster's primary ability is usually 15 or rarely, 16.

I mean, those are excellent attributes - anything higher than a 16 is in the top 4(?) out of 216.

2e has a lot to answer for.

 

[nsruf]

I prefer 28 pt buy for pretty much the same reasons as Glyfair. And so far, I have had no complaints about an 18 being too costly, but this may be because few of my players have a lot of experience with 2E.