D&D 5E (2014) Why no 16-18s allowed in Point Buy?

[Stalker0]

I was wondering what is the rationale that the point buy system only goes to a max of 15 in a stat (so 17 with racial bonuses).

I understand the higher stats being very expensive, but not to include them at all seems a bit limiting imo.

 

[Blackbrrd]

I think it makes sense, since nobody can use point buy to get an 18.

 

[GX.Sigma]

To give characters room to grow, and to keep 18 as an extraordinary thing, rather than the norm.

 

[Jeph]

The "No 18s in point buy" deal was actually one of the things in the basic rules that I rather liked.

Was really not a fan of the 3e/4e/PF assumption that you needed to start with an 18 or 20 in your primary stat.

I also really like that stat increases are capped at 20; really encourages less one-note characters.

 

[Obryn]

It changes chargen assumptions. You're going from editions where point-buy was the best way to get the stats you wanted (3e, 4e) to an edition where rolling is the best way to get the stats you wanted. It's to drive players to roll up their characters, I believe.

 

[Abstruse]

It's about trade-offs. You can roll your stats to try to get a 16-18, but you take the chance of getting a 3-7 in another stat. You also take the chance they you might end up with a net +3 or +4 modifier bonus rather than the +6 from the array.

Also combined with the 20 cap to natural stat improvement levels the playing field at mid and high level play. If you have a natural 18 through rolling and another character has a natural 15, the first character (with a +2 racial modifier) is as good as he's ever going to get without magic at that thing. The character with the 15, however, can catch up in just a few levels (+2 racial bonus, +2 stat bonus at 4th and +1 at 8th (or 6th for Fighter)).

 

[Crothian]

It's about trade-offs. You can roll your stats to try to get a 16-18, but you take the chance of getting a 3-7 in another stat. You also take the chance they you might end up with a net +3 or +4 modifier bonus rather than the +6 from the array.

This will only work if we assume that the DMs will make players keep the first character they roll. In my experience that just doesn't happen. The other problem is the internet has taught me that people will cheat when they roll characters.

I look forward to someone asking wizards what happens with their attribute boosts they get from leveling when the character's attributes are already maxed out at 20.

 

[Obryn]

This will only work if we assume that the DMs will make players keep the first character they roll. In my experience that just doesn't happen.

Well, no, and arguably it shouldn't, because at the end of the day, this is a character the player would hopefully be happy playing.

 

[billd91]

I look forward to someone asking wizards what happens with their attribute boosts they get from leveling when the character's attributes are already maxed out at 20.

That's easy if you're using feats. You simply take a feat instead.

 

[reiella]

This will only work if we assume that the DMs will make players keep the first character they roll. In my experience that just doesn't happen. The other problem is the internet has taught me that people will cheat when they roll characters.

I look forward to someone asking wizards what happens with their attribute boosts they get from leveling when the character's attributes are already maxed out at 20.

From what it looks like currently, we will probably be able to trade attribute boosts for feats.

[ doh ninja'd ]