Point buy starting pool

[Zappo]

Rolling results in slightly higher scores than 25 PB. However, PB allows you to min/max more effectively. So, I think that 25 PB is roughly correct. I don't know if this is common, but lots of DMs I've met that argue that rolling is better than 25 PB tend to let the player choose between two or three sets, or reroll one stat, or something similar. PB is only equivalent if you play the rolling method by the book, of course.

 

[Geoff Watson]

These calculations have been done several times here and on r.g.f.d.

4d6 drop lowest averages out to about 29 or 30 point buy, depending on how you count scores below 8 and whether you reroll hopeless characters.

Geoff.

 

[tetsujin28]

I'm a believer in rolling.

 

[Imruphel]

My campaigns use the following:

PCs- 42 points

Named key NPCs- 36 points
Named but not really key NPCs- 32 points
Other NPCs- 25 points

I realise it's high-powered but everyone (DM included!) likes it.

 

[S'mon]

If you want PCs of equivalent average effectiveness to 1 roll of 3/4d6 where you allow rerolls for hopeless PCs, I recommend 28 PB, not 25 or 32. 25 is only equivalent if you don't allow hopeless PCs to be rerolled (a bad idea IMO), and 32 PB is better than most rolled PCs.

 

[tetsujin28]

Here's a prior discussion regarding point buy equivalent to the PHB "4d6 drop lowest and reroll hopeless characters" method:
http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=128481

-RedShirt

Final Result: 30.4633219726944

Total Characters Accepted: 7790570
Total Characters Rejected: 8986646

Interesting. 54% of characters are rejected.

 

[cmanos]

how about roll 4d6 drop the lowest, repeat 5 more times, and put them in whatever oprder you like.....

I had a DM once who insisted you had to choose your class before rolling stats, then had to roll 3d6 for each stat. It stayed put, nbo changing. I had a Mage with a 6 intelligence. What kind of moron would make you play that character.

For point buy, 28-32 is good. nothing really stellar.

 

[JoeGKushner]

If using point buy, I go with 32 points. It may seem to be "power gaming", but I've found that even 32 tends to be on the low side until I remember, that you don't need a 16 to have a bonus these days and that the bonuses start at a much higher point.

Right now in my Shackled City campaign, I allowed the players to use some elite arrays from Advanced Game Master's Guide and in a Midnight campaign I'm playing, we were given 30 points to build our characters.

 

[Aus_Snow]

If any of your players tend to roll as well as some of mine do, use high point-buy or a generous fixed array. That way no-one gets shafted, too.

Maybe something like 18, 16, 13, 12, 9, 8 - for what looks balanced to me. What would that be in point buy, hm. . . 36?


So I'd say around 36, for what it may be worth.


edit --- Well I just thought, the 'worst' someone could do with that is probably all 14s. And that's hardly going to be 'game-breaking', I would think.

 

[Old One]

Base of 28-pts, with a bonus of up to 6 additional points for PC background of 500 words, inclusion of good world/plot elements, character illustration and painted mini. Most players end up with 32-34.

One caveat, I run a low/limited magic campaign, so having a bit higher-powered PCs to start balances that out somewhat.

~ OO