Point buy vs. rolling

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I was just woundering how many of you prefure point buy to the standard rolling method for character generation?

I've noticed it's very popular with the on board games, which makes sense. It keeps people honest, but how many of you use it in your games at home?

 

[Axiomatic Unicorn]

I use point buy.

I think there is value in every character having the exact same options.

Plus, IME, rolling methods tended to become, re-rolling sessions until you got something you accepted. So why not cut to the chase?

On the other hand, rolling was "The Way" for a long time, so I understand why some people would prefer to stay with it.

 

[Caliban]

Re: Piont buy vs. rolling

I was just woundering how many of you prefure point buy to the standard rolling method for character generation?

I've noticed it's very popular with the on board games, which makes sense. It keeps people honest, but how many of you use it in your games at home?

I only use point buy, I don't like the variable power levels that rolling produces.

Other people prefer rolling, they don't like the tendency of certain character concepts to have exactly the same stats. (i.e. once you find the "best" way to make a character, why spend your points differently?)

I will now bow out before the "Dice vs. Point Buy" jihad starts again.

 

[Crothian]

We like the gamble of the dice. Also, I find to amny people min max with point buy and that's much harder to do with a set of randomly generated numbers. It also adds a certain amount of excitment in character generation as people warm up their dice, have roll offs with their dice to see which they will use, or other odd gamer dice superstitions we have.

 

[DMaple]

We have used point buy for Star Wars (although I think it was 28 or 30 points) and rolling for D&D, don't ask me why? I guess its because of what we are use to being old D6 Star Wars players in the past point buy seemed natural for D20 Star Wars.

 

[Psychotic Dreamer]

In the past I have usually used rolling. Lately I have been using the point buy method. I usually go with 32 or 34 points.

 

[kenjib]

Has anyone tried a hybrid model? For a rough examle/first draft:

1. Roll 3d6 for each stat in order and take all scores where they fall - no rearranging or reassigning.
2. Spend 12 points as per point buy rules to increase the rolled stats. You gain no benefit from decreasing a stat below the value of your initial roll.

I think this could make for an interesting combination of nature/nurture. I have no idea how many points would be good for step 2 though. Has anyone tried something like this? Is it a good or bad idea?

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

Never used Point buy, and I never will.

 

[Simon Magalis]

It depends on the group, but I like to do both.

 

[Desdichado]

We typically use rolling, but I would prefer point buy. kenjib, I might use your hybrid method next time I DM.