Has anyone out there ever given characters the option of using XP to up their 'raw' ability scores? Expensive enough that no PC would start doing it until mid levels, but cheap enough that a PC is likely to have their primary stat at natural 18 at 20th level. I've always thought it would be cool to have a 40th level NPC thousand-year-old mage with stats as if she had rolled all natural 18s to start. I've also thought that this would be a flavorful requirement to divine ascension (divinity is perfection!)...or it could be the munchkin that I hide deep down in my psyche.
TS
Has anyone out there ever given characters the option of using XP to up their 'raw' ability scores? Expensive enough that no PC would start doing it until mid levels, but cheap enough that a PC is likely to have their primary stat at natural 18 at 20th level. I've always thought it would be cool to have a 40th level NPC thousand-year-old mage with stats as if she had rolled all natural 18s to start. I've also thought that this would be a flavorful requirement to divine ascension (divinity is perfection!)...or it could be the munchkin that I hide deep down in my psyche.
TS
I thought that's what the ability-ups every 4 levels were for... after all, with a 15 in their primary stat (which should really be the lowest your primary stat should start at), a character can have it be a 20 at 20th level - which beats your 18... Going off of the elite array, it would take until 140th level to have all 18s with this, but then there're the inherent bonuses from Wish, as well as epic spells (I believe the Fortify seed should do it) - All 18s is easily done by 40th if you take those into account...
(divinity is perfection!)
Considering the Wisdom scores of some of the Greek gods, I can't wholly agree with you there. Also, having every ability score be equal sounds like a lawful trait to me (or maybe neutral), whereas a truly Chaotic god would have ability scores all across the board, sometimes changing by the situation (+2 if you're male, -2 if you're female, +3 if you're a wizard, -2 if it's Tuesday).
I do realize that having a couple 18s by 20th level is nothing difficult with magic and boosts. I have no particular reason to want an NPC/PC with all 18s (not counting lvl boosts, manual/tomes or items) except that...isn't it everyone's dream to roll 6 natural 18s at first level? Aside from this, have you ever had a player get jealous of another player because of ability scores?
TS
Never had a player who was jealousy of another player due to different stat scores for their characters. But I did have players jealous of the other's character idea. Especially those who become jealous of the insane damage dealing done by munchkin pcs.
I do not mind the number crunching by "munchkin" players since they are clearly putting a lot of time and effort into the character. There is no need to punish them for that. Instead I strive to make sure the other players are happy with their pcs, and that often involves setting up adventures/scenarios in which dealing massive damage is not the answer. In that context, "roleplayers" shine.
It's a hard job trying to please all of the players but in the end, it's worth it. As usual, I went off-topic. Sorry.
CB out.
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Has anyone out there ever given characters the option of using XP to up their 'raw' ability scores?
TS
No, but we have played where you could spend XP to buy feats or more skill points. Feats cost 500 XP times (the number of prerequisites plus one). I think skill points were 250 XP per point, but I can't remember right now for certain.
This allowed for more flexible characters without giving high BAB or save modifiers. Also avoided the issue of the wizards falling behind in XP because they were the only ones spending XP on magic items.
No, but we have played where you could spend XP to buy feats or more skill points. Feats cost 500 XP times (the number of prerequisites plus one). I think skill points were 250 XP per point, but I can't remember right now for certain.This allowed for more flexible characters without giving high BAB or save modifiers. Also avoided the issue of the wizards falling behind in XP because they were the only ones spending XP on magic items.
I allow players to use XP to buy skill points, up to their level + Int 'maximum'. This doesn't become an option until their Int score is permanently raised though. I also allow XP to 'unlearn' feats/skills in favor of new ones, if players realize that they've made a nonsensical decision.
I would have a really hard time allowing a player to 'unlearn' a feat or skill for any reason simply because that seems like meta-gaming at its most extreme and there just isn't a logical 'in-game' explanation why someone could do this. I absolutely wish that I could turn back the clock and erase all those French lessons in school but its not going to happen.
Also, I think the 4-level stat boosters and other options to increase stats are just fine. I don't see high stats as a benefit and low stats as a drawback to my players (and they agree). Either, or, tell us alot about the character and invoke and inspire roleplaying personalities. As one poster above mentioned, it is then my job as the DM, to make the adventures fit - and therein lays the fun!
Cheers
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