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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Rasyr" data-source="post: 2710300" data-attributes="member: 2855">First off, not all point buy systems are created equal. Hero for example does not have professions/classes so all characters start from the same exact point.Rolemaster and HARP are examples of another type of point buy system, but one with classes, where the class defines the degree of difficulty of learning skills (i.e. he point costs in purchasing them). However, this type of model only loosely defines those class niches, and allows for a wide variety of customization.Then in D&D, you have strict class structure, where the class defines everything (yes, there is some EXTREMELY minor customization with the use of skill points, but it is far less than the class defined features). However, with this model, you end up with many, many, many different classes (this includes both base and prestige classes), many of which replicate features of another class, and so forth...However, what I think might be a very good idea would be to make something that is someplace between D&D and HARP. Have your basic niches, have point buy systems, but only allow those points to be used to customize within the niche. This is actually already partially implemented with Clerics (domain spells).For example, Fighters would have a wide selection of options to purchase, everything from lightly armored Dex-based Fighters to heavily armored tanks, archers or spearmen, etc... Rogues could go the same way at one end of the spectrum have combat oriented scouts, and at the other have thieves and pickpockets and con-men. For Wizards, create sub-sets of spells which are very focused in nature (example - all of the Bigby's xx spells become one focus group), and then Wizards can use their points to specialize in these various spell groups (with these working much like Cleric domain spells).Of course, you would also include a group of generic abilities and such that all classes could purchase. Using this last model, you would be both giving niche protection, and allowing a great deal of customization without having to worry about rules bloat (or class/PrC bloat), though it is quite likely to continue to happen anyways without careful, extreme management.</blockquote>

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