What is the best way to generate balanced d20 characters?

[badash56]

Hello all,

I will be running a new DND campaign soon, and I have been trying to come up with the best way for my players to generate attributes. I want everyong to be balanced, and not too powerful. I have been thinking about using a point distrubition system. Maybe starting every stat at 8 and give 30 points to spread out? Do you think that is to much? The PCs will be starting at 3rd level if that helps. My reason for doing this is, I want them to make their characters before our session. It seems everytime we do this and roll for stats, everyone was "really lucky" and gets a few 18s. I don't DM many games so I am not experienced in what the best system to use is. Maybe you pros can help?

Thanks!

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Welcome to the forums!

Here's what a lot of people use.

Ability Score    Point Cost
 8                0
 9                1
10                2
11                3
12                4
13                5
14                6
15                8
16               10
17               13
18               16

Then they give the players 25 to 32 points to spend.

Personally, I use something called the "standard array" 15,14,13,12,10,8 ... and I let the players distribute those scores how they like. I tend to shy away from pure point buy because palyers can accidentally gimp their own characters by having two stats of 18 and leaving everything else at 8. An 18 is good, but it isn't everything.

Don't worry about the points being low. Since your players are allocating them, they'll have more control over the advantages and disadvantages.

Happy gaming!

 

[caudor]

I also favor the point buy as presented in the DMG. It allows the players to choose a class and allocate points toward that goal; plus, you don't have to watch them roll any dice. And it allows them to more easily prepare characters before the session (without as much temptation to fudge).

For my campaign, I usually go with 28 points...but 30 should be fine if think your campaign will be a tough one.

 

[Crothian]

Go with point buy system in the DMG, it is a proven method that works very well.

 

[Ace]

Add me to the point buy chorus as well

I favor a semi heroic 32-38 point buy system-- this allows a juicy 18 without much pain

A couple of other options I have tried include

best 3 of 4d6 reroll less than 8 --I find players get rather powerfull rolls for some reason and I get charcters that are seriously overpowered

I have allowed players to set whatever they like -- this works fine with a good group

and I have done random point buy 30+1d8 -- that gives a bit more variety

I haven't tried standard array +2d4 yet but I suspect that would be OK as well

As for other options I find the standard array and 25-28 point buy too weak to be fun YMMV

 

[BiggusGeekus]

As for other options I find the standard array and 25-28 point buy too weak to be fun YMMV

It tends to keep the party together. A buddy and I switch off DMing. He uses 32 points. I've noticed that the PCs are a little braver and prone to wandering off. In my game the players stick together out of fear.

Of course, I've also been known to give power-ups. An advantage of the standard array is that I can just hand out extra hit points for saving the town or a point of INT for a PC that does a lot of spell research or whatever. Since they start lower, it gives me room to hand out gifts like that.

All that being said, there has been some grumbling from time to time.

 

[Buttercup]

The standard point buy works well, IMO. I *do not* like 4d6 drop lowest as a method of ability score generation. I've seen too many characters handicapped by crappy scores that way.

Other alternatives:
Give your players a default array. It doesn't have to be the one mentioned above. It could be 16, 15, 14, 13, 10, 8 for instance.

Use the point buy method, but award bonus points for various background details. I generally give out 1 ability point for drawing a picture of the character, 1 point for doing a detailed family background, and 1 point per two items on a long list of background items. This not only give the players slightly higher ability scores, which is no big deal IMO, but it gives me lots of fodder for plot hooks.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

While I love 4d6 drop the lowest, its really isn't the best if you want to keep the party even with each other. I still try to keep most of my games with the dice rolling for stats, but when I think a 32 point buy is pretty good. 25 and 28 Point Buys usually get characters that are very, very similar stat wise.

Not that that's a bad thing, but not every player likes that.

 

[MavrickWeirdo]

Hello all,

I will be running a new DND campaign soon, and I have been trying to come up with the best way for my players to generate attributes. I want everyong to be balanced, and not too powerful. I have been thinking about using a point distrubition system. Maybe starting every stat at 8 and give 30 points to spread out? Do you think that is to much? The PCs will be starting at 3rd level if that helps. My reason for doing this is, I want them to make their characters before our session. It seems everytime we do this and roll for stats, everyone was "really lucky" and gets a few 18s. I don't DM many games so I am not experienced in what the best system to use is. Maybe you pros can help?

Thanks!

The best way to have balanced D20 characters, is to have mature, reasonable players; any method can be manipulated by munchkins

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

Welcome to the forums!

Here's what a lot of people use.

I do the same thing, but I expand the table. I start with 25 point buy at first level, and then give out 1 extra point-buy point for levels 2-4, 2 extra for 5-8, 3 extra for 9-12, and so on.

I use the following table for scores higher than 18, which can be taken any time after 1st.

Ability Score    Point Cost
19                20
20                24
21                29
22                34
23                40
24                46
25                53
26                60
27                68
28                76
29                85
30                94