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It defaults to a 15 point buy per rules, or standard fantasy. Doesn't really disadvantage players in any way, but some might feel it takes away their control over building their own character.
It's a little lower than what you roll on average. 16, 14, 13, 12, 10, 9
I dislike low point buys or the equivalent because of MAD characters. Many classes need at least 3 decent stats to function properly(decent con + 2 combat stats). Low stat games favor already powerful classes like wizard
I've run a fairly long campaign with just the heroic array for PCs - worked fine, including for the monks and paladins in the game.
I would agree that low *point-buy* can favor wizards in some ways, but Heroic array means no min-maxing a 19 or 20 Int while sacrificing most everything else.
L1 Fighter: 17, 13, 14, 10, 12, 8: Greatsword +4 (2d6 + 4), w/o feats
L1 Wizard: 10, 14, 13, 17, 12, 8: DC 15/16 color spray
L1 Paladin: 14, 10, 13, 12, 8, 17 (among other options): Smiting evil, Greatsword +6 (2d6+4), 2 better AC than the fighter.
All quite effective.
I dislike low point buys or the equivalent because of MAD characters. Many classes need at least 3 decent stats to function properly(decent con + 2 combat stats). Low stat games favor already powerful classes like wizard
It's a problem in point buy. But in point array, that SAD score is only a 15, that could only get boosted to a 17 with a racial adjustment. It's not that big of a deal.
I dislike low point buys or the equivalent because of MAD characters. Many classes need at least 3 decent stats to function properly(decent con + 2 combat stats). Low stat games favor already powerful classes like wizard
With a +2, +2, -2 race:
15 > 17 w/ racial
14
13 > 15 w/ racial
12
10
8 > 6 w/ racial
A +3 and two +2s
With a +2 race:
15
14
13 > 15 w/ racial
12
10
8
Three +2s
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I've run a fairly long campaign with just the heroic array for PCs - worked fine, including for the monks and paladins in the game.
I would agree that low *point-buy* can favor wizards in some ways, but Heroic array means no min-maxing a 19 or 20 Int while sacrificing most everything else.
L1 Fighter: 17, 13, 14, 10, 12, 8: Greatsword +4 (2d6 + 4), w/o feats
L1 Wizard: 10, 14, 13, 17, 12, 8: DC 15/16 color spray
L1 Paladin: 14, 10, 13, 12, 8, 17 (among other options): Smiting evil, Greatsword +6 (2d6+4), 2 better AC than the fighter.All quite effective.
This is what I'd hoped.
If it's good enough for NPCs, it should be good enough PCs, right?
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I am always keeping an eye out for opportunities for a little blatant self-promotion.
I created a random ability score generator that is built around two concepts:
- Create usable ability score arrays, rather than generate each score with an equal probability distribution
- Doing so within a (selectable) total point buy range
It eliminates min/maxing for the most part, gives you pairs of strong primary, moderate secondary, and weak (but not necessarily punitive) tertiary scores, while introducing some randomness so that everyone doesn't look alike.
YMMV.
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It's a good array.
One way to level the playing field between fewer-stat classes (like Wizard) and multi-stat classes (like Monk) is to replace the "+1 to one ability score every 4 levels" with a gradual increase in point buy as the characters level. I can suggest +1 per new level, where the players are free to immediately improve lower ability scores or save the points for later to increase higher ability scores.
