Point Buy Recommendations

[Ferrix]

I'm wondering what a good point buy layout would be for more heroic characters. 25 just doesn't seem in the least bit to cut it for me. I would have _searched_ for old posts but apparently you have to pay to use the search function. grrrr... freakin' lame. So, if anyone could help me out a tad, cause I don't entirely feel like running numbers this late at night. Thanks.

~Ferrix

 

[dvvega]

I personally have found 32 points is plenty for a good power level.

 

[Darklone]

Well... I'll give comments to all point buy power levels that I played.

15 points: This is very interesting and challenging for the players to use their heads more than their swords or abilities. Though it got better later since you could increase one attribute by one point each level.

20 points: Combined with a similar attribute increase as above (players started as kids and got more points when they grew older), it's still playable as long as the monsters have their average racial stats.

25 or 28 points: Game was balanced here. Humans suck a little bit in comparison with other races, you have to value one feat against one possibly higher stat.

32 points: Humans start to shine more since they can afford some good stats or many not bad ones but the balance does not break yet.

40 points: Only reason not to play humans: You want a spellcasting race with Int/Cha/Wis 20 for the extra bonus spells. Balance is strongly shifted towards classes that "need" at least two 18s.

60 points: Well. Everyone who plays a single or double stat monster like a fighter or perhaps druid is screwed. Monks, Paladins, Cleric, Psions shine.

 

[Bonedagger]

32 point buy.

 

[Priest]

On topic what is the cost for each ability in the point buy system ( I am looking at 28 point buy)

 

[Berk]

no point buy is a good point buy. Can't stand point buy personally. I like how I roll my dice. But anyways I think it's a point for point basis until 14, then it's 6 for for a 15, 8 for a 16, 12 for a 17, and 16 for an 18. I think, mostly sure about it costing 16 points for an 18, and know it is a point for point up to 14. just not to sure about 15, 16, and 17. No books around to check.

 

[Shin Okada]

I have found 32 pt. buy is in very good in balance as concentrated character type can have one 18 and 1 or two 14s, and two top type can have, say, two 16s, while more Jack of All Trade type can buy a lot of 14s.

Point buy with bigger points will favor multiclass characters or characters in intermediate class such as Bard or Monk.

When I make my own adventures, each adventure's main villains have 32 pts., guys and critters with PC class usually have 25 pts., and other goons and monsters usually have 15 pts.

 

[Asheron]

we use 28 points sometimes raise it to 30 or 32, it seems pretty balanced, no herioc stats though......once you hit the 34 (or more) points I find that the characters become more like would-be-heros and you should think twice before running a campaign with lots of high magic items in order to keep the balance

 

[ConcreteBuddha]

I used to hate point buy, now I'm a convert. I dislike the inevitable disparage between members of the party that comes with dice rolling. Also, after 13 years of rolling dice in front of the DM while making a character, the novelty has worn thin.


The amount of points I use depends on the flavor of the campaign, but I generally stick to 32. I like PCs being more heroic than average elite NPCs without being completely overpowered.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

While I'm relatively certain I'm in the minority here, I like point buy, and I use 25 point buy to boot.

Why?

Consistency for one (all players start with the same hand).

It makes high scores really special -- you can get an 18 to start, but you really have to trade off for it.

Everyone learns to deal with a minor weakness.

The game balances here. I don't have to beef up a lot of monsters to make the game work -- stats right out of the DMG and MM work just fine. I give commoners average stats, named/classed NPCs default array.

I play in a 25 point buy and a 28 point buy game, and happend to like them both. I find that if everyone's on the same playing field the size of your stats really does not matter.

Heroism is in the character's attitude and deeds, not his stats.