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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Hussar" data-source="post: 3074414" data-attributes="member: 22779">THis is a bit of a false comparison though.  Point buy characters aren't necessarily better at "laying down the smack" than rolled characters.  In fact, IME, rolled characters are almost universally higher point characters than point buy simply because a one is cocked FAR more often than six.  <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />Sure, characters will become different through play.  That's a given.  But, what's wrong with them all starting at the same point?The difference between a 25 point character and a 35 point character is about one level.  Take a look at a 35 point 4th level fighter and a 25 point 5th level fighter.  The 4th level fighter is numerically almost identical (and possibly a little better) than the 5th level fighter.  At 6th, the 25 point fighter pulls ahead due to a bonus feat and iterative attack, but, at 7th, they pull neck and neck again.  The same is true for just about any class.  I realize, that by 20th level, the point buy doesn't make much difference, but, up to about 10th or 11th, it makes about a 1 level difference.  This is pretty large IMO.I usually give this advice to DM's wanting to run low magic campaigns - use higher point buys to even out the party's abilities.I guess that's my basic reason for using stat buy.  It allows me, as DM, to guage the party's abilities much better.  If I want to use very tough encounters, I can use a higher point buy.  If I am not so concerned with combat encounters and am running a much higher rp game, then 25 point buys are perfectly acceptable.I really do believe that much of the criticism leveled that 3e characters are so powerful stems from die rolled characters.  It makes sense that a party with 35-40 point characters is going to steamroll standard encounters - they are equivalent to a level higher.  The game, IME, just works a lot better with point buy.  CR functions more easily because the party isn't over or underpowered.  Classes and PrC's don't get out of hand as easily because the wahoo stuff requires such high stats that 25 point buy characters just can't qualify.Not that die roll generation is bad.  I used it for a long time and I understand the attraction.  However, I've found that point buy just works so much better for me, that I would never go back to random generation.  And, sorry Cro, letting my PC's pick their stats isn't going to happen either.  <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /></blockquote>

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