Is this right? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Is this right? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
DraconsNighthawk
12-11-06, 05:05 PM I'm trying to see if the point buy is right for my character. I'm not quite sure how it works. My dm says that mods are added first. This is 32 point buy, and I added my level 4 bonus to my dex.

Str: 15
Dex: 16
Con: 14
Int: 10
Wis: 14
Cha: 8

I'm playing a Halfling. (Standard). Did I overspend points or underspent them? Do you add the racial mods first, or last?
trapspringer
12-11-06, 05:21 PM Modifiers are added last. Your DM is mistaken, and should re-read the section on point buy.

For an elf, a twenty in dexterity costs sixteen points. How else could he get that high when the listed prices only run through eighteen?

That is a 27 pt buy, IINM.

Something like:

12
18
14
12
12
10

Or

10
20
12
10
12
10

Or

16
12
14
10
14
08

Is more in your ballpark. You should leave your highest or second highest stat at an odd number because fourth level is comin' faster than you think and high stats are expensive.
Some_call_me_Tim
12-11-06, 05:31 PM I'm trying to see if the point buy is right for my character. I'm not quite sure how it works. My dm says that mods are added first.
The rulebooks say you generate abilities first then add racial bonuses (PHB 7).
This is 32 point buy, and I added my level 4 bonus to my dex.
Str: 15
Dex: 16
Con: 14
Int: 10
Wis: 14
Cha: 8
Let's take out the bonus to dex for levels so:

STR 15 DEX 15 CON 14 INT 10 WIS 14 CHA 8

Then remove the halfling racial adjustments:

STR 17 DEX 13 CON 14 INT 10 WIS 14 CHA 8

Let's see the costs
STR 17 = 13 points
DEX 13 = 5 points
CON 14 = 6 points
INT 10 = 2 points
WIS 14 = 6 points
CHA 8 = 0 points

grand total 32 points.
DraconsNighthawk
12-11-06, 07:11 PM So its five points for dex and con to have different scores??
Trokanis_Knightblade
12-11-06, 08:04 PM You are all correct for the most part but truth be told it doesn't matter when you add the racial bonuses to Stats. Halfling for example gets a +2 to their Dex, no matter how you add it it still costs 10 points to raise it's score to 18. I agree however that adding it last is FAR less confusing, especially when you're working with humans all the time and you change to elf or halfling.

So now I know. ;)

"Beware those who have a crisis of faith, or those hurt by said crisis."
strenoth
12-11-06, 08:39 PM why is it more confusing to add it last? if you add it first, you ahve to remember you added it first, and adjust the point buy accordingly.

Example: A human starts with an 8 dex, and can spend up to 16 points to increase it to 18.

If the character is an elf, you spend yoru points EXACTLy the same, then add the +2, to give the character a 20 dex if the original score was 18.

If you add the ability score first, you ahve to keep in mind that you spend 10 points to reach 18, and 16 points to reach 20, instead of just following the chart provided.
Some_call_me_Tim
12-12-06, 10:23 AM So its five points for dex and con to have different scores??
Mea culpa, you're right it should be five points for a 13 and six points for a 14. I'm going back and changing it. Thanks for catching it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
DraconsNighthawk 12-11-06, 05:05 PM	I'm trying to see if the point buy is right for my character. I'm not quite sure how it works. My dm says that mods are added first. This is 32 point buy, and I added my level 4 bonus to my dex. Str: 15 Dex: 16 Con: 14 Int: 10 Wis: 14 Cha: 8 I'm playing a Halfling. (Standard). Did I overspend points or underspent them? Do you add the racial mods first, or last?
trapspringer 12-11-06, 05:21 PM	Modifiers are added last. Your DM is mistaken, and should re-read the section on point buy. For an elf, a twenty in dexterity costs sixteen points. How else could he get that high when the listed prices only run through eighteen? That is a 27 pt buy, IINM. Something like: 12 18 14 12 12 10 Or 10 20 12 10 12 10 Or 16 12 14 10 14 08 Is more in your ballpark. You should leave your highest or second highest stat at an odd number because fourth level is comin' faster than you think and high stats are expensive.
Some_call_me_Tim 12-11-06, 05:31 PM	I'm trying to see if the point buy is right for my character. I'm not quite sure how it works. My dm says that mods are added first. The rulebooks say you generate abilities first then add racial bonuses (PHB 7). This is 32 point buy, and I added my level 4 bonus to my dex. Str: 15 Dex: 16 Con: 14 Int: 10 Wis: 14 Cha: 8 Let's take out the bonus to dex for levels so: STR 15 DEX 15 CON 14 INT 10 WIS 14 CHA 8 Then remove the halfling racial adjustments: STR 17 DEX 13 CON 14 INT 10 WIS 14 CHA 8 Let's see the costs STR 17 = 13 points DEX 13 = 5 points CON 14 = 6 points INT 10 = 2 points WIS 14 = 6 points CHA 8 = 0 points grand total 32 points.
DraconsNighthawk 12-11-06, 07:11 PM	So its five points for dex and con to have different scores??
Trokanis_Knightblade 12-11-06, 08:04 PM	You are all correct for the most part but truth be told it doesn't matter when you add the racial bonuses to Stats. Halfling for example gets a +2 to their Dex, no matter how you add it it still costs 10 points to raise it's score to 18. I agree however that adding it last is FAR less confusing, especially when you're working with humans all the time and you change to elf or halfling. So now I know. ;) "Beware those who have a crisis of faith, or those hurt by said crisis."
strenoth 12-11-06, 08:39 PM	why is it more confusing to add it last? if you add it first, you ahve to remember you added it first, and adjust the point buy accordingly. Example: A human starts with an 8 dex, and can spend up to 16 points to increase it to 18. If the character is an elf, you spend yoru points EXACTLy the same, then add the +2, to give the character a 20 dex if the original score was 18. If you add the ability score first, you ahve to keep in mind that you spend 10 points to reach 18, and 16 points to reach 20, instead of just following the chart provided.
Some_call_me_Tim 12-12-06, 10:23 AM	So its five points for dex and con to have different scores?? Mea culpa, you're right it should be five points for a 13 and six points for a 14. I'm going back and changing it. Thanks for catching it.