Point buy Druid, anybody else think these stats are a little odd or is it just me?


Advice


Starting a new game soon and I'm using the 20 point buy system. I have a PC who wants to play a Human druid and has the following stats:

To start with it was:
STR 18, Dex 8, Con 10, Int 14, wis 14, cha 12.

I mentioned that with a low wis it would make things difficult for spells etc. So this was the players answer..

Str 18, dex 8, con 10, int 14, wis 15, cha 10.

Not that I mind, if thats the way he wants to play it fine its all legit but I just can't help think he's missing the point here?


I don't think the low wisdom is a problem if he wants to make a melee character; by the time he'll be casting level 8 spells, he can easily afford a Headband of Wisdom +4, for example. The 8 Dex and especially the 10 Con will be problematic, though.


18-2 (racial) = 16
10 points

8
-2 points

10
0 points

14
5 points

15
7 points

10
0 points

10 -2+7+5=20. No. The rule is every time you want to increase the stat during point buy the additional cost is the ability modifier of the stat you're increasing it to, or in the case of 0 modifiers, 1 point


That was kind of my thought too, The point buy is fine it was just the low wis I wondered about, thats why I tried to get him to add another point in to it so with the ability increases later he should be OK. The Dex IS going to cause him problems though. He has kitted his pc out in Hide armour so all dex skills are going to have an extra -2 on top of low mod...oppsss I appear to have fallen over,...again....

I did try and get him to drop a couple on Str to bring it to 16 but hes adamant he want a high Str.

Grand Lodge

If he understands that his stats may hinder him, but chooses them nonetheless, then leave it at that.
He may have his mind set on a specific concept, I wouldn't fight it.


Looks like he's making a combat druid. It'll serve him well when he starts wildshaping. If he's not casting spells that require saving throws all he needs to do is hit Wis 19 by 17th level to be able to cast all his spells. Sure, he won't have bonus slots but he probably doesn't care.

You're probably looking at a self-buffing death machine.


You might start to see *his* point once he's taking 4 attacks per round as a Deinonychus, or 5 on a charge as a dire tiger.


the int and cha are the only things confusing me. 14 wisdom is about right for a melee druid to start , but that dex is going to mean a reaaaly low ac when he shifts


Being a wildshaping melee druid, his wisdom should suffice.

The only thing I can see working against his, is going to be his dex. Until (if possible) he get a wild armor, he is going to have a very low AC.
If I were to optimize on his build, I'd exchange his 14 int to 14 dex, and leave both int and cha at 10. But the fact that his stats is focused on having skills points, rather than sheer combat mechanics, is something I would encourage him to do.

Grand Lodge

As I said, if he understands what those scores mean, let it be.


The main problem in his build is not wis (14 is perfect himo, some could consider dropping it at 13): the problem is 14 int and 12 cha which could be better spent on dex and con.
As a human I'd put my bonus in STR and play like this.

STR 15(7)+2=17 all increments here
DEX 14(5)
CON 14(5)
INT 12(2)
WIS 14(5)
CHA 7(-4)

or, if you really want to start with a 18 in STR:

STR 16(10)+2=17 all increments here
DEX 14(5)
CON 12(2)
INT 12(2)
WIS 14(5)
CHA 7(-4)

I'd choose between the two depending on what level I think I'll reach.

If 7 cha is too low, consider cha=8 and int=10: as a human you have 5 maxed skill even without the favored class bonus, more than enough for a druid.


Glass cannon build.

With 18 Str he will hit like a truck when wildshaped but his AC will be meh and his Hitpoints too.

This could cause some hard feelings when he starts to dish out the damage but can't take it.

I would point out to the player that you do not pull punches.


BigNorseWolf wrote:

the int and cha are the only things confusing me. 14 wisdom is about right for a melee druid to start , but that dex is going to mean a reaaaly low ac when he shifts

And the STR is going to mean he kills the opponent a turn sooner, which means less punch-backs.

Numbers-wise, going for an 18 str (or at least 17) with a wildshape combat druid is very smart. That bonus to hit applies on every swing, so it's much more important than on, say, a fighter. At least be happy he's not dumping CHA.


Well it's obviously built for wild-shaping but what gets me is the dexterity and intelligence, especially as his dex will drop further for larger shapes.

Maybe he's attempting not to power-game TOO much but if he is then it would make much more sense to drop int and cha and raise dex and con. Cha can be dropped to 7, I mean what sort of party has a druid as its face? :P


If he wants to increase his skill points (as opposed to having Int 14 for RP reasons) you could consider allowing him Fast Learner human racial feat from incoming Advanced Race Guide. It will turn his favored class bonus into +1 hp and +1 skill rank per level and he'll need Int 13 for this, which will save him 2 ability but points that could be spend elsewhere. *cough* Dex *cough*


Cheers People :)

I intend to let him play what he wants anyway, as you say he seems to know what he is doing. I ilke his concept just worried for the shortfalls hes given himself.

However, do you think I should say to him to add the ability increase scores in to DEX instead of Wisdom as he levels up? I might substuite some treasure to help him out too, maybe add in some dex modifying magic items.

Sczarni

I wouldn't go out of my way to help him fix his down fall.

A lot of characters need that down fall to make them less of a power house. As time goes on his shape shifting, spells and loot will have him fixing it on his own. Having the low Dex is something I would make him roleplay...not fix.


ferrinwulf wrote:
However, do you think I should say to him to add the ability increase scores in to DEX instead of Wisdom as he levels up?

Nope. Just let him be. Part of learning the system comes from experience. It's one thing if there's a clear misunderstanding like "I wanna be a grappler so I'm going to have a huge Dex!" This isn't that. It's just shy of optimal. Let him be.

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