Point Buy: how many BPs?

[kaomera]

I've used several different systems for generating ability scores for PCs. Some of them have been designed to produce a higher average score (such as: 4d6, drop the lowest only if the total would otherwise exceed an 18), but I've only ever used the "standard" 25 BP point-buy. I'm noticing that a lot of groups seem to use a higher BP total, and I was kind of wondering how far that went, and why...

It seems at first glance to be a kind of player-created "power creep", but I'm starting to think that really isn't the case. If all characters (or elite characters, at least) are built using the same totals, there's no real power-creep, and anyway I think it's more an issue of allowing more flexibility (especially in the area of skills). Some of my players would ask for more points no matter what I gave them, and the rest seem pretty much ready to go with whatever I want.

 

[Rhun]

I prefer to use a higher point buy total, at least 32+ (when I actually use Point Buy, that is). I like my characters to be heroic. I also tend to throw a lot of challenging opponents at my players, and higher stats help to give them a bit of an edge.

I personally dislike the standard 25 point buy method, though it does seem to be fairly popular.

 

[LogicsFate]

32(which is in italics on the poll) is the fare of most of our games, at it is suggested for high power games, much less than that and the characters feel like how I usually roll, cruddy. :\

 

[Psion]

32(which is in italics on the poll) is the fare of most of our games, at it is suggested for high power games, much less than that and the characters feel like how I usually roll, cruddy. :\

Um, if it's in italics, that just means you voted for it.

No italics here. Yet.

 

[Crothian]

Let them pick their stats!!

 

[kaomera]

Let them pick their stats!!

Tempting...

Unfortunately, I think I'd end up with one or two 25-point (or less) builds, one or two in the 28-30 range, two around 40 or so, one 96 BP (which character would promptly die from "look at me, I'm Superman!" syndrome ), and two players who would refuse to put pencil to paper until I gave them a fixed value to work with...

 

[shilsen]

I allow PCs to be created by dividing 80 pts among the 6 stats, with no more than one 18 and nothing lower than an 8 (before racial modifiers). It generally works out to 36-40 pts on point-buy.

 

[CRGreathouse]

Let them pick their stats!!

That's my favorite method as player and DM, although oddly when I'm DMing my players always insist on using some other system.

 

[Crothian]

That's my favorite method as player and DM, although oddly when I'm DMing my players always insist on using some other system.

I've had that sme problem. One campaign I told them to pick their own stats and they all got together and decided they were more comforitable with 28 point buy. And then they politely asked me if that was okay with me.

Another time they all rolled for stats and one guy was just rolling too good so he rolled thring strings until he had something he liked that was not too strong.

All the times I've done it I have yet have a player with a stat higher then 16 and all of them have had at least one stat an 8 or lower.

 

[kaomera]

That's my favorite method as player and DM, although oddly when I'm DMing my players always insist on using some other system.

I'm not sure it's all that odd. As I mentioned, at least two of my players would not really be comfortable making that kind of decision for themselves. I'm not sure if that's just something they would rather leave to the DM, or if they're afraid I'd somehow use it against them.

Personally when I'm creating a PC I'd prefer to roll dice. It feels like it takes a certain amount of pressure off of me, somehow.