Point Buy: how many BPs?

[shilsen]

MAD is a new term for me. What does it mean, please?

Multiple ability dependent.

 

[shilsen]

It does. For me though high stats mean the game is easier for the character. And I don't see herioc being easy.

I sincerely doubt that a few extra pts in stats makes the game easier. I run a game with PCs that have the equivalent of 36-40 pt on point-buy.

They're also usually equipped a level higher according to the suggested wealth guidelines, mostly having no more than one to two fights a day in game time (so the PCs encounter most fights fully loaded), get a far more generous version of action pts than available in UA or Eberron, usually fight enemies of a lower EL than them and I generally don't bump up NPC stats to compensate.

But they regularly win battles by the skin of their teeth and without me allowing action pts to prevent death, would have a death every two session. Easy is up to the DM, not the stats. High stats just means that the range of possible tasks becomes a little wider. IMNSHO and YMMV.

 

[Crothian]

I sincerely doubt that a few extra pts in stats makes the game easier. I run a game with PCs that have the equivalent of 36-40 pt on point-buy.

Given the same encounter a group that does one point of damage more per hit, has an extra +1 to their saves, have their DC of spells +1 higher, have more hit points, higher AC, better attack bonus is going to be more effective. At higher level it will mean extra spells which is a big difference maker. Even a 5% difference can make a big differnece over the life of a campaign.

True a DM can make things easy or hard; but all I'm looking at is the characters.

 

[shilsen]

Given the same encounter a group that does one point of damage more per hit, has an extra +1 to their saves, have their DC of spells +1 higher, have more hit points, higher AC, better attack bonus is going to be more effective. At higher level it will mean extra spells which is a big difference maker. Even a 5% difference can make a big differnece over the life of a campaign.

True a DM can make things easy or hard; but all I'm looking at is the characters.

I agree with everything you said about the differences it makes, but when you say "high stats mean the game is easier for the character", you're already bringing the game world into the equation and not looking at just the character. I guess we're just drawing our lines differently, with me seeing the same differences you describe as big as much smaller.

So, alas, we can't really have a big disagreement. On the bright side, I hear KarinsDad is waiting for you on the Disjunction thread

 

[Crothian]

I agree with everything you said about the differences it makes, but when you say "high stats mean the game is easier for the character", you're already bringing the game world into the equation and not looking at just the character.

The game world though doesn't matter unless you feel the game world changes if the PCs have better or worse attributes.

Ya, it's a not a big arguemnt, but I've got a little time to kill before I go run Changeling tonight

 

[Jeff Wilder]

I use a linear point-buy, very slightly weighted by each attribute's game-value relative to the others, rather than the standard "all attributes are supposedly equally valuable, but God forbid a character have an 18" point-buy in the core rules (and Living campaigns).

 

[Infiniti2000]

I use a linear point-buy, very slightly weighted by each attribute's game-value relative to the others...

That sounds interesting. Do you have more detailed description of that method somewhere perchance?

 

[Victim]

The game world though doesn't matter unless you feel the game world changes if the PCs have better or worse attributes.

Ya, it's a not a big arguemnt, but I've got a little time to kill before I go run Changeling tonight

A more generous stat system for the PCs will likely mean that main baddies and other major players get the same consideration.

We've been doing 35 point buy. It's high enough above the normal value of rolled stats (~30) that it's a painless change and characters can often have decent stats in tertiary areas just because. But characters can't have multiple 18s (from base stats anyway); while high, the stats generally aren't unreasonable.

 

[McDungeon]

I do 32 point buy and give max hp for each level.

Overpowered? Somewhat, but it allowed for longer/more encounters before rest, assuming I found a way to time limit the PCs. It also means I can toss about 5 to 6 encounters per day to use up resources and makes melee useful.

Though I've only done it up to 7th lvl, it might breakdown later, but so far after 18 sessions it's working fine.

 

[Nonlethal Force]

I do either a 32 point buy or an 80 point 1-1 system.

In my 80 point 1-1 system I have the following rules: no score below 8 and no score above 18 unless acheived through racial modification. (Thus, 6s and 20s are attainable, but only through race.) It would allow for both of these characters and everything in between:

14, 14, 14, 14, 12, 12
20, 18, 14, 14, 8, 6 (With the right Racial Mods, of course)

Personally, I usually just use 32 point buy because people know the point buy system so well. I don't like it, though. I'd rather use a 1-1.