Character Points: More control over feats and ability scores


Homebrew and House Rules


|
|
|
|
|
|
THE RULE

Instead of gaining feats every odd level (including 1st) and ability scores every 4th level, heroic characters gain 2 Character Points every level (again, including 1st).

Feats can be bought for 2 CP. Traits can be bought for 1 CP.

Base ability scores can be raised by paying CP as if they were extra points for buying scores using the purchase method, (see Core Rulebook p16 for costs). Your base ability scores are your ability score values BEFORE racial modifiers, magic, class features, mythic abilities and all other increases and penalties are applied.

At 3rd level and every 4 levels thereafter, the maximum value to which you can raise your base scores increases by 1. Each value beyond 18 costs 4 points.

Points cannot be saved between levels, but they can be used to buy part of a feat or ability score increase for which you qualify. This has no immediate benefit, but the feat or ability score increase is gained as soon as the rest of the price is paid at a later level.

THE ANTICIPATED FAQ

Why do this?
It reduces concept delay, it lets you simplify characters by giving them fewer abilities if you're so inclined, it helps balance M.A.D. characters and low rolls and most of all, more freedom is a good thing.

Why do characters qualify for higher ability scores a level early?
Because it takes two levels of points to buy the increase and you can't save towards it until you qualify, so in practice you get it the level after it opens up.

How does this affect balance?
It makes character's stronger in three ways:

  • More control allows competent players to tune their creations more precisely.
  • A few feats are available one level earlier because characters qualify them at an even-numbered level.
  • If you raise attributes that are below 18, you get more bang for your buck than you do with the regular rules. The point buy wizard won't notice this too much, but the monk will, as will the guy with the terrible rolls.
  • Thoughts, everyone?

    Verdant Wheel

    feats are valuable, banking yet more points sucks, so does waiting for 4th for your first bump (and 8th your second), and bumping the same ability score is SAD. how about this?:

    odd levels - feat
    even level - +1 ability score - but can't bump same one twice in a row!

    so yeah, that 17 in ST bumps to 18 at 2nd level now. but you can't do it again until 6th...


    Pathfinder Lost Omens Subscriber

    this doesn't actually change anything if you still put limits on ability scores, except I guess people can forgo them for feats.

    edit: since that actually seems to be the only change, I don't see how this is an improvement of the system, it just lets you emphasize feats more.


    This may end up promoting "dead level syndrome" for more MAD characters. A feat can be fairly exciting or not, but an ability score increase is almost always unexciting.

    Frankly, I'd pretty much always forgo ability score increases for more feats unless I was hitting spell level limits--and in that case, I'd hunt for wishes or something.


    Ok, first of all, the limit on raising scores is only a limit on their maximum value. You can raise low scores every single level if you're so inclined. This rule allows you to focus on ability scores so much that you never take a single feat if you really want to do that.

    I don't want to double the number of ability score points handed out. THat's not what I'm going for at all. This system is designed to usually add up the same as the standard advancement rule, but to help out characters with lower scores, get you your essential feats sooner and give you more control over your character's growth.

    As for it not changing anything, trust me, it does. People tend to get more feats and get them sooner, characters who aren't focused on increasing one score end up with higher scores overall and SAD characters make decisions and personalise characters more rather than mindlessly whacking another point on their casting stat every 4 levels.

    Blahpers, you've actually outlined some of the reasons I made this. You would pretty much always go for feats, so now you can have twice as many as before. Somebody who prefers to raise scores can do that instead, because a simpler character appeals to some more than others.

    Community / Forums / Pathfinder / Pathfinder First Edition / Homebrew and House Rules / Character Points: More control over feats and ability scores All Messageboards

    Want to post a reply? Sign in.
    Recent threads in Homebrew and House Rules