D&D 5E Working on a point-buy Class system!

[Slit518]

I am working on a point-buy class system. However, I am not quite sure what point values everything should be worth.

I will upload a PDF version of what I have so far, if anyone wants to take a look at it. And for any of you "crunchers" out there, if you want to guage the appropriate point values for said class features, go ahead.

View attachment D&D 5e Point Buy Class.pdf

 

[Elon Tusk]

So for 30 points I can take:
Wild Shape 3/long rest,
Rage 3/short rest,
3 extra attacks,
an animal companion,
unarmored defense,
a d10 hp,
and indomitable.

Or, for 30 points, I can take 5 tool proficiencies.

 

[discosoc]

It's not really something that can be balanced in d&d... The "value" of any given ability isn't measured in absolute terms, but rather in relation to the other stuff that ability is going with (or not going with).

*edit*

The only way it could be balanced is if you group the abilities into classes or roles, and having each character choose their base role at creation. So the "fighter" could access d10 hd cheaper than the rogue, but gaining spell slots would be more expensive for him than if a "wizard/caster/striker/controller/whatever" role were to purchase it. I still think balancing that would be a nightmare, but it's the only way I can see it happening.

 

[Tony Vargas]

There's a lot of 'package deals' and 'grandfathered in' stuff in D&D class design, and there are some things that are arguably over- or under-valued.

If you could come up with an objectively-correct point-buy system, you'd only discover that different classes add up to different totals.

 

[Ratskinner]

By the Gods!

5e is like 2e!

 

[dave2008]

So for 30 points I can take:
Wild Shape 3/long rest,
Rage 3/short rest,
3 extra attacks,
an animal companion,
unarmored defense,
a d10 hp,
and indomitable.

Or, for 30 points, I can take 5 tool proficiencies.

Wild Shape 3/long rest = 4
Rage 3/short rest = 12
3 extra attacks = 18
an animal companion = 4
unarmored defense = 4
a d10 hp = 5
and indomitable = 2

= 49

PS _ I'm not suggesting the values are correct (that's why he is asking for help), but your math was off

 

[Slit518]

To be fair, I haven't listed requirements yet. Some of these things will have requirements. For example, Extra Attack would have a level 5 requirement, Extra Attack 2 a level 10, etc...

 

[Xeviat]

Generally, each level is balanced against an ASI, in theory. There's a few ribbon levels.

I wouldn't do point buy, but 5E could be simplified into talent trees. Also, with some effort, all characters could be balanced around the same hit dice if you played with things (warriors would want higher con, ranged characters could get away with lower con).


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[Blue]

There's a lot of 'package deals' and 'grandfathered in' stuff in D&D class design, and there are some things that are arguably over- or under-valued.

If you could come up with an objectively-correct point-buy system, you'd only discover that different classes add up to different totals.

I have to agree with Tony. And not only are there package deals, there are things that aren't together because they are too good. When you see people talking about taking a 2-3 level dip just to get a class feature because how it reacts with what you have, being able to just combine both of them at "normal" prices in a point-buy gets very powerful.

If you want more flexibility, I'd suggest something more like Chinese menu design. "One from column A, one from column B." So options that are very powerful to take together or you want niche protection on can be in the same column and you only get one of them.

 

[Horwath]

How about you get 10pts per level. 20 pts at 1st level.

Then you just have to work around cost of every ability/ASI/skills/feature.

I.E. +1 to an ability would cost 4pts

one skill prof would cost 2pts.

One caster level(whatever the class) would cost 8pts

Extra attack would cost 10 or 15 pts,

1 HP per level would cost 4 pts

Tool or language would cost 1 pt.

armor prof would cost 4 pts per category.

Martial weapons would cost 4 pts

Expertise 4 pts per skill,

Unarmored defense 4 pts,

Paladins divine grace 12 pts,

etc...