Okay, so for the last few weeks, I've been studying up on D&D. Since I'm a college student and have no money for the official books, this has all been internet study. After a lot of pounding my head against the proverbial wall, I think I understand basically everything but one theoretically simple, basic detail: how in the world do you increase basic stats?
Charisma, for instance. Do you spend skill points on it? Does it automatically increase when you level up? Is it necessary to use some item or spell?
I realise I should have this question answered by my local D&D group... but the few times I've attempted to play with them, they assumed I knew all about the game and scoffed at my questions (needless to say, I won't be playing with them again anytime soon).
Hopefully someone here can help. Thank you!
Bella Sara Charter Superscriber
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Sorry to hear you had a rough time with getting yourself involved in a group. I think I speak for everyone on these boards when I say please ask any question you want and we will do our best to provide an answer.
Stats go up in one of three main ways after character creation:
1. You get to increase one stat by one point at 4th level and each 4th level thereafter (i.e. 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th, and 20th);
2. Certain magic items or spells temporarily increase your stats by 2-6 points (e.g., Bull's Strength - 2nd level cleric spell, Belt of Ogre Strength - magic item).
3. Certain very powerful magic items or spells permenantly increase your stats by 1-5 points (e.g., Wish - 9th level wizard spell, certain magic books).
There are a handful of other ways (aging, change shape, class abilities like the barbarian's rage), but these are the most common.
Skill points can only be used to increase skills. There is no other way to increase stats during character leveling other than the bonus point every 4th level.
Hope that helps.
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Believe in karma or not, but in 10 years the same people will be out of college, lamenting the lack of anyone to game with.
There's numerous ways to increase ability scores.
Firstly, every four levels of advancement, you gain one point you can add to any one ability score.
Certain races gain bonuses/minuses to certain scores at creation.
Certain spells and magic items increase ability scores temporarily, some magic items can raise them permanently.
I'm sure my listing isn't exhaustive, but there you go.
I hope you enjoy gaming.
Thank you very much! The one point for each fourth level thing - that's exactly what I was looking for.
Additionally, thank you for the luck in looking for a group! Hopefully the university group is the exception, not the rule, for local D&D-ers. =)
EDIT: Oh, now I understand the "Argument Club" comment. =P
Sorry about your negative experience with your local gamers; it's those few bad-eggs treating newcomers like pariahs that give the rest of us gamers a bad name.
On a more practical note, I thought you might find this interesting: http://www.d20srd.org/
It's the three core rulebooks in an online form, courtesy of WotC's open gaming license. You said you did internet research already, so you may have come across this already, but I thought I'd put it here just in case, since you mentioned not having the money to pick the books up right now. Hope it's helpful, but as has already been said please feel free to return here with any questions you might have.
Welcome to the game, and to the Paizo boards. I just wanted to wish you luck in finding a good group to game with.
So, where are you going to college? (You never know, someone on this board may be in your area, or able to get you in touch with someone in your area.)
If your college has a science fiction club thats a good place to ask.
Your local gaming store or a Barnes & Noble (or Borders, or university book store) may have a board up listing games and openings.
The gamer connection on this board is also a good way to find folks.
Different DMs have different styles and each group has its own dynamic - don't get frustrated. Its a great game and a great way to meet people.
Good Luck
Although Sebastian answered your question, there is also the small matter of generating ability scores at first level. It’s one of those things that everyone does automatically, but forgets to explain to the new players. Also, the SRD is very quiet on the subject.
There are a couple of methods that are commonly used: Die-roll; point-buy and stat array.
die roll is the traditional method. There are several flavours. The most basic is that you roll 3d6 and add the results. A roll of 4; 3 and 5 would net you a score of 12. Repeat 5 times (for a total of 6), then assign the scores to the abilities as your character demands.
Another option is that you roll 4d6 and drop the lowest score. A roll of 5; 3; 2 and 6 would net you a score of 14 (as you drop the 2). Repeat 5 times and assign as the character demands.
A third option is you roll 7 scores and drop the lowest. You can do this either with 3d6 or 4d6 for each score. A set of 17; 15; 12; 12; 11; 8 and 5 would mean you drop the 5
point-buyis the most common method right now. Basically, you start with each ability score at 8, and then spend a certain amount of points to increase the score. Cost for each score is usually:
8 - 0
9 - 1
10 - 2
11 - 3
12 - 4
13 - 5
14 - 7
15 - 9
16 - 12
17 - 15
18 - 19
The amount of points you can spend varies, but is usually 25, 28 or 32.
ability score array is a method the DM uses more often than a player, and gives you fairly straightforward stats. Basically, the DM gives you a set of stats, which you can then assign to your ability scores. The array is usually something like 15; 14; 13; 12; 10 and 8
In all cases, you apply all modifiers after assigning scores to each ability.
point-buyis the most common method right now. Basically, you start with each ability score at 8, and then spend a certain amount of points to increase the score. Cost for each score is usually:
8 - 0
9 - 1
10 - 2
11 - 3
12 - 4
13 - 5
14 - 7
15 - 9
16 - 12
17 - 15
18 - 19The amount of points you can spend varies, but is usually 25, 28 or 32.
Whoa. This is not correct. This may be a house ruling on point buy, but the core rules (DMG Chapter 6: Characters, page 169) set the points as the following:
8 - 0
9 - 1
10 - 2
11 - 3
12 - 4
13 - 5
14 - 6
15 - 8
16 - 10
17 - 13
18 - 16
Essentially, the cost to increase from one point to the next is equal to the modifier of the current point (minimum 1). So if for some reason you allowed someone to purchase a 19 (just going by the progression, this is not in the rules), it would cost 20 points (16 for an 18, plus 4, the modifier for 18). I hope this makes sense.
As noted, the amount of points you spend varies (depending on the DM), usually from 25 on up. 25 points is equal to the elite array (as Chef's Slaad noted above), and so is the most "balanced" of the point buy numbers. If your DM uses 25 point buy, you can expect that class-leveled foes your character faces will be on equal footing with him. 32 points, however, seems to be the most common number.
From a DM's perspective, I really like point buy, because it assures me that everyone IN THE PARTY is on equal terms. I really don't care if they have uber-powerful characters with 18s in every score - as the DM, I can just throw something even more powerful at them, if I get the whim. What matters is that all the players are on equal terms. In my campaign, I let the players decide mutually what point buy to go with - they chose 32.
TK
Director of Sales
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I realise I should have this question answered by my local D&D group... but the few times I've attempted to play with them, they assumed I knew all about the game and scoffed at my questions (needless to say, I won't be playing with them again anytime soon).
Hopefully someone here can help. Thank you!
Welcome to the game and to the Paizo Boards! Don't worry, you're in great company here.
As your initial question has been answered exhaustively, I'll just reiterate a couple of other things for you:
If you are looking for a new group who will be more accepting and helpful to a new player, check out our Gamer Connection here on the Paizo Boards. See if there's someone in your area looking for a group, or post a notice for yourself. It's also a good idea to check with any local gaming/book stores for notices.
As for your books, definitely check out the Online SRD for Open Gaming License versions of the core D&D Books. When you are ready to purchase the book, though, you can get them right here!
(Pardon the commercial message, but I... like... work here, n'stuff... so I'm kinda supposed to.)
Welcome, Good Luck, and Have Fun!
cos
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Also, if being in school has left you strapped for time, head on over to DMTools and have some generator fun. If you need to flex some creative muscles, go on to The World Project and flex away.
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Whoa. This is not correct. This may be a house ruling on point buy, but the core rules (DMG Chapter 6: Characters, page 169) set the points as the following:8 - 0
9 - 1
10 - 2
11 - 3
12 - 4
13 - 5
14 - 6
15 - 8
16 - 10
17 - 13
18 - 16Essentially, the cost to increase from one point to the next is equal to the modifier of the current point (minimum 1). So if for some reason you allowed someone to purchase a 19 (just going by the progression, this is not in the rules), it would cost 20 points (16 for an 18, plus 4, the modifier for 18). I hope this makes sense.
TK
TK is right. I did the list off the top of my head and messed up.
I think I went wrong when I added the cost of the ability modifier of the next highest score rather than the current one.