Best Stat Array for Point Buy [Archive] - Wizards Community

Best Stat Array for Point Buy [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Endwyn
01-26-07, 02:03 PM So, with High Powered (32 points) what's does everyone think is the best array of stats?
Onikani
01-26-07, 02:09 PM Depends on your class, SAD and MAD builds will be very different, and even then it will be influenced by starting level, wealth and party size.\.

But you could start somewhere simple like
16
14
14
12
12
10

or
14
14
14
14
12
12
Elsydeon
01-26-07, 02:20 PM Umm....

Str 10
Dex 12
Con 16
Int 18
Wis 8
Cha 8

Put all your new ability points into Intelligence.

Make a Psion Shaper 5/Slayer 10/Psion Shaper 5. Make absolutely CERTAIN you take psychic reformation as a 4th level power. Also reccomended are entangling ectoplasm, and the other ranged touch attack powers available (one lets you throw 15 weapons as an attack with your mind). Simple, versatile.

I'm assuming that since you asked without naming a preferred class, or the setting, etc you're relatively new.

That character will give you a perfect idea of what you want to play. You can fight almost like a fighter (get a weapon with good damage enhancements). Cast spells like a strong spellcaster. You have a pet, so you can decide if you like those. You can 'fix' the character if you mess up, or just experiment for fun, with psychic reformation (lets you undo levelup decisions). You have enough HP to survive. And you have a TON of skill points to experiment with all the skills. Can't go wrong... well, permanently anyway.
StevenO
01-26-07, 07:06 PM The "Best" use of those point depends largely on what you want to be.

If your using a class that has limited stat needs (Wizard) then go for that 18 although I'd normally quit with a 17 and spend those other 3 points on something else. If you are using a class or multiclass concept that needs multiple good stats I'd probably go 15, 14, 14, 14, 12, 10 or something close. Your answer lies someplace between the two extremes.
danielinthewolvesden
01-26-07, 08:36 PM Generally, you get the best overall results in not buying anything higher than a 16 and only one of them.

This allows you 14's in all the secondary abilities. Onikani's
16
14
14
12
12
10

works, as would 16, 14, 14, 14, 10, 10. Or 16, 14, 14, 14, 12, 8.

Maybe 16, 16, 14, 14, 8, 8. But see, now there's two dump stats. Bad.

And, if you're new, do not try and play anything Psionic.

So, let's do a Fighter, as an example:
Str 16
Dex 14,
Con 14
Wis 14
Int 12
CHA 8

That 14 in Wis gives you +2 to your Will saves. Very nice. And, +2 to a lot of skills (and the 12 Int gives you 150% sill points, nice also). Or, you could do:

Str18
Dex 14
Con 14
Wis10
Int10
CHA8
and be very one dimensional.
Elsydeon
01-26-07, 11:34 PM Actually, if you're new to D&D a Psion is more natural than a Wizard. Most non-D&D settings use mana. Power points translate well into that, and most newer players would have an easier time with Psionics. That and the reformation power ensure you can't gimp yourself power-wise. If you didn't know how to play, you could spend game 1 as a warrior, game 2 as a Psion, game 3 as a pet-guy (astral construct and all), game 4 as a skill monkey (huge int). For beginners this offers the most experimentation, and following the advice given they can always 'fix' the character. They can get a feel for what they like and don't.
Cainin
01-27-07, 12:04 AM For a power caster character, I usually use...

18, 14, 14, 12, 8, 8

Though this build is designed for a IN or CH power caster (arcane or psi) who uses ST & CH as dump stats (though some pick WS instead).

For a divine character expected to wear heavy armor or some kind of fighter type, I prefer...

16, 16, 14, 14, 8, 8

Again with 2 dump stats. Usually this is IN (conterbalanced by playing a human) and CH (which is more often than not a worthless stat).
Endwyn
01-27-07, 01:18 AM I wasn't asking for me to use. I just figured I'd ask what people prefer. Stat buy is so different than rolling.
Anaxander
01-27-07, 10:15 AM There is no real answer to this question unless you specify for which character concept, or at least class, the array should serve.
mkill
01-29-07, 10:43 AM So, with High Powered (32 points) what's does everyone think is the best array of stats?

That depends on whether there's mountain dew or coke on the gaming table, and whether tabasco is available for the pizza.
starfire311
01-29-07, 10:50 AM So, with High Powered (32 points) what's does everyone think is the best array of stats?

no such thing as best array, it entirly depends on your character... if you are just trying to maximize your modifers the best array is

14
14
14
14
12
12
elondir
01-29-07, 11:04 AM For 28-point buy I prefer

16
14
12
12
10
10

That way I don't have any negative modifiers and can be ahead of my spellcasting progression.

Personally, I'm not a fan of point buy. Since I'm apparently a borderline munchkin (I like brokenness as long as it's legal RaW, and I DM very liberally with enough house rules that it's barely recognizable as D&D), I'm dabbling with a true bell curve using a normal distribution pseudo-random number generator with mean 12.24 and standard deviation 2.846844 (the same as 4d6 drop lowest, except it's symmetrical instead of skewed). This occasionally (2% chance) gets scores over 18 (up to 21 but actually unlimited, and you have the same odds of getting a 4), but 68% of rolls are between 9 and 15, and 96% are between 7 and 18 (28% of really good or bad).
amethal
01-29-07, 01:06 PM I'm currently playing a 32 point buy binder, for which I used :-

14,14,14,14,10,14
DarkRhystar
01-29-07, 01:07 PM There are only 22 choices assuming you're not starting with an odd stat.
18 18 8 8 8 8
18 16 14 8 8 8
18 16 12 10 8 8
18 16 10 10 10 8
18 14 14 12 8 8
18 14 14 10 10 8
18 14 12 12 10 8
18 14 12 10 10 10
18 12 12 12 12 8
18 12 12 12 10 10
16 16 16 10 8 8
16 16 14 14 8 8
16 16 14 12 10 8
16 16 14 10 10 10
16 16 12 12 12 8
16 16 12 12 10 10
16 14 14 14 12 8
16 14 14 14 10 10
16 14 14 12 12 10
16 14 12 12 12 12
15 14 14 14 12 10
14 14 14 14 14 10
14 14 14 14 12 12

An easy way to narrow them down is to decide how many 8's you can afford. A single 8 chops your choices almost in half and two 8s leaves you with 6 choices. Vice versa, say you never want two 8s; that eliminates 6 choices.

Another way is to decide whether or not you need an 18. No 18s eliminates 10 choices leaving you with 12.

Just narrow down what you want and the appropriate array becomes clear. :)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Endwyn 01-26-07, 02:03 PM	So, with High Powered (32 points) what's does everyone think is the best array of stats?
Onikani 01-26-07, 02:09 PM	Depends on your class, SAD and MAD builds will be very different, and even then it will be influenced by starting level, wealth and party size.\. But you could start somewhere simple like 16 14 14 12 12 10 or 14 14 14 14 12 12
Elsydeon 01-26-07, 02:20 PM	Umm.... Str 10 Dex 12 Con 16 Int 18 Wis 8 Cha 8 Put all your new ability points into Intelligence. Make a Psion Shaper 5/Slayer 10/Psion Shaper 5. Make absolutely CERTAIN you take psychic reformation as a 4th level power. Also reccomended are entangling ectoplasm, and the other ranged touch attack powers available (one lets you throw 15 weapons as an attack with your mind). Simple, versatile. I'm assuming that since you asked without naming a preferred class, or the setting, etc you're relatively new. That character will give you a perfect idea of what you want to play. You can fight almost like a fighter (get a weapon with good damage enhancements). Cast spells like a strong spellcaster. You have a pet, so you can decide if you like those. You can 'fix' the character if you mess up, or just experiment for fun, with psychic reformation (lets you undo levelup decisions). You have enough HP to survive. And you have a TON of skill points to experiment with all the skills. Can't go wrong... well, permanently anyway.
StevenO 01-26-07, 07:06 PM	The "Best" use of those point depends largely on what you want to be. If your using a class that has limited stat needs (Wizard) then go for that 18 although I'd normally quit with a 17 and spend those other 3 points on something else. If you are using a class or multiclass concept that needs multiple good stats I'd probably go 15, 14, 14, 14, 12, 10 or something close. Your answer lies someplace between the two extremes.
danielinthewolvesden 01-26-07, 08:36 PM	Generally, you get the best overall results in not buying anything higher than a 16 and only one of them. This allows you 14's in all the secondary abilities. Onikani's 16 14 14 12 12 10 works, as would 16, 14, 14, 14, 10, 10. Or 16, 14, 14, 14, 12, 8. Maybe 16, 16, 14, 14, 8, 8. But see, now there's two dump stats. Bad. And, if you're new, do not try and play anything Psionic. So, let's do a Fighter, as an example: Str 16 Dex 14, Con 14 Wis 14 Int 12 CHA 8 That 14 in Wis gives you +2 to your Will saves. Very nice. And, +2 to a lot of skills (and the 12 Int gives you 150% sill points, nice also). Or, you could do: Str18 Dex 14 Con 14 Wis10 Int10 CHA8 and be very one dimensional.
Elsydeon 01-26-07, 11:34 PM	Actually, if you're new to D&D a Psion is more natural than a Wizard. Most non-D&D settings use mana. Power points translate well into that, and most newer players would have an easier time with Psionics. That and the reformation power ensure you can't gimp yourself power-wise. If you didn't know how to play, you could spend game 1 as a warrior, game 2 as a Psion, game 3 as a pet-guy (astral construct and all), game 4 as a skill monkey (huge int). For beginners this offers the most experimentation, and following the advice given they can always 'fix' the character. They can get a feel for what they like and don't.
Cainin 01-27-07, 12:04 AM	For a power caster character, I usually use... 18, 14, 14, 12, 8, 8 Though this build is designed for a IN or CH power caster (arcane or psi) who uses ST & CH as dump stats (though some pick WS instead). For a divine character expected to wear heavy armor or some kind of fighter type, I prefer... 16, 16, 14, 14, 8, 8 Again with 2 dump stats. Usually this is IN (conterbalanced by playing a human) and CH (which is more often than not a worthless stat).
Endwyn 01-27-07, 01:18 AM	I wasn't asking for me to use. I just figured I'd ask what people prefer. Stat buy is so different than rolling.
Anaxander 01-27-07, 10:15 AM	There is no real answer to this question unless you specify for which character concept, or at least class, the array should serve.
mkill 01-29-07, 10:43 AM	So, with High Powered (32 points) what's does everyone think is the best array of stats? That depends on whether there's mountain dew or coke on the gaming table, and whether tabasco is available for the pizza.
starfire311 01-29-07, 10:50 AM	So, with High Powered (32 points) what's does everyone think is the best array of stats? no such thing as best array, it entirly depends on your character... if you are just trying to maximize your modifers the best array is 14 14 14 14 12 12
elondir 01-29-07, 11:04 AM	For 28-point buy I prefer 16 14 12 12 10 10 That way I don't have any negative modifiers and can be ahead of my spellcasting progression. Personally, I'm not a fan of point buy. Since I'm apparently a borderline munchkin (I like brokenness as long as it's legal RaW, and I DM very liberally with enough house rules that it's barely recognizable as D&D), I'm dabbling with a true bell curve using a normal distribution pseudo-random number generator with mean 12.24 and standard deviation 2.846844 (the same as 4d6 drop lowest, except it's symmetrical instead of skewed). This occasionally (2% chance) gets scores over 18 (up to 21 but actually unlimited, and you have the same odds of getting a 4), but 68% of rolls are between 9 and 15, and 96% are between 7 and 18 (28% of really good or bad).
amethal 01-29-07, 01:06 PM	I'm currently playing a 32 point buy binder, for which I used :- 14,14,14,14,10,14
DarkRhystar 01-29-07, 01:07 PM	There are only 22 choices assuming you're not starting with an odd stat. 18 18 8 8 8 8 18 16 14 8 8 8 18 16 12 10 8 8 18 16 10 10 10 8 18 14 14 12 8 8 18 14 14 10 10 8 18 14 12 12 10 8 18 14 12 10 10 10 18 12 12 12 12 8 18 12 12 12 10 10 16 16 16 10 8 8 16 16 14 14 8 8 16 16 14 12 10 8 16 16 14 10 10 10 16 16 12 12 12 8 16 16 12 12 10 10 16 14 14 14 12 8 16 14 14 14 10 10 16 14 14 12 12 10 16 14 12 12 12 12 15 14 14 14 12 10 14 14 14 14 14 10 14 14 14 14 12 12 An easy way to narrow them down is to decide how many 8's you can afford. A single 8 chops your choices almost in half and two 8s leaves you with 6 choices. Vice versa, say you never want two 8s; that eliminates 6 choices. Another way is to decide whether or not you need an 18. No 18s eliminates 10 choices leaving you with 12. Just narrow down what you want and the appropriate array becomes clear. :)