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I recently picked up Shadowrun 5th edition (having only ever played 2nd edition before this) and there is a system for character creation that I thought was really cool. Basically you are given A-E priority slots to assign to different aspects of your character. You only get one letter of each, A being the best. For example if you wanted to play a powerful race you would assign A to your race section, but you would be weaker in a different aspect.
I thought this was really interesting and allows people to play what they want without breaking a game too much. I constantly get people wanting to play a race in pathfinder that is just too much once you combine it with classes ect, but if you limit the rest it becomes not such a burden.
Here is a very quick concept I came up for mimicking the system for Pathfinder.
Races
A-Any race 20 RP worth
B-Uncommon Races from ARG
C-Featured Races from ARG
D-Core Races
Point Buy
A-25 Point Buy
B-20 Point Buy
C-15 Point Buy
D-10 Point Buy
Classes
A-3pp
B-Any Class from Paizo
C-Any Class from Core, APG
D-Core Classes
Starting Wealth
A-1200 Gold can have magic items and consumables to start
B-800 Gold can have magic consumables to start
C-400 Gold no magic to start
D-150 Gold
You should slice it by good classes/bad classes, not source. Wizard and Druid are in the CRB. That way, you don't pay a premium for quality like Dreamscarred Press, but you can still discourage classes you'd rather not deal with.
If you want to restrict sources, replace money with total number of books.
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"Aasimar clerics with 25 point buy and 800 gp that can have magic consumables to start with" is not really balanced with "Gillmen Soulknives with 10 point buy and 400 gp."
Thanks those are good points. I would like to develop this into something better. I might look at what PFS has restricted for classes to give me some insight. I know summoners are one that probably should be a B or A.
I will have to look at specific races too as Milo mentioned, but the core idea I like, now just need to get some specifics.
Here is a little better of a list. Looking at the races, RP is probably the best way to handle them. In Shadowrun it is specifically magic that you are limited to by the category and that is probably appropriate here too.
I might add # of allowed traits/drawbacks/background skills as a category or find a way of putting in the class category.
Races
A-20 RP
B-16 RP
C-12 RP
D-10 RP
Point Buy
A-25 Point Buy
B-20 Point Buy
C-15 Point Buy
D-10 Point Buy
Magic Classes
A- Access to all Magical Classes and Archetypes
B- Denied access to Summoners, Druids, Wizards and Sorcerers and their archetypes, any others you are granted access too
C- Access to Hybrids only-Bards, Rangers, Inquisitors, Paladins
D- Only Martial Classes
Starting Wealth
A-1200 Gold can have magic items and consumables to start
B-800 Gold can have magic consumables to start
C-400 Gold no magic to start
D-150 Gold
Using point-buy as priority just wont work, because attributes will define the overall power of your character, making every other option undesirable.
Avoid using it as a priority option. I would, instead, offer a few predefined values for each priority, with more balanced options at the end and more focused on 1-2 attributes at the top.
Like: 18, 15, 13, 10, 10, 8 (highest attributes being +4) vs 15, 14, 14, 13, 13, 12 (highest being +2)
Using point-buy as priority just wont work, because attributes will define the overall power of your character, making every other option undesirable.
Avoid using it as a priority option. I would, instead, offer a few predefined values for each priority, with more balanced options at the end and more focused on 1-2 attributes at the top.
Like: 18, 15, 13, 10, 10, 8 (highest attributes being +4) vs 15, 14, 14, 13, 13, 12 (highest being +2)
That is true to some degree, though Races can also define power level as well things like free bonus feats and +2 to attributes can be just as powerful as a few more points in attributes. And as far as classes go, there is plenty of threads showing the vast difference between casters and martials.
I do like the idea of offering a different spread of points though, I will work on this some more.
Races
Race Points
A-20 RP
B-16 RP
C-12 RP
D-10 RP
Point Buy
A-25 Point Buy-Spread out how ever player wants
B-20 Point Buy-No score <10 before racials
C-15 Point Buy-No Score <10 before racials, No score >18 after racials
D-10 Point Buy-10 before racials, No score >18 after racials
Magic Classes
A- Access to all Magical Classes and Archetypes
B- Denied access to Summoners, Druids, Wizards and Sorcerers and their archetypes, any others you are granted access too
C- Access to Hybrids only-Bards, Rangers, Inquisitors, Paladins
D- Only Martial Classes
Starting Wealth/Traits
A-1200 Gold can have magic items and consumables to start, 3 traits and can take up to 3 drawbacks for additional traits
B-800 Gold can have magic consumables to start, 2 traits, can take 1 drawback for trait
C-400 Gold no magic to start, 2 traits, one has to be campaign trait, 1 drawback allowed for additional trait
D-150 Gold no magic to start, 2 traits, one has to be campaign trait,no drawbacks allowed