To Point Buy Or Not To Point Buy

One Horse Town · September 25, 2006, 12:54:34 PM

Well, which do you prefer, point buy systems or ones with a little random element.

I tend to be put off by many point buy systems simply because you seem to have to know the system pretty well just to make a character! I well remember not understanding a thing about my first ad&d character, but the thrill of finding out in play. Of course that was 20 plus years ago when i was but a young thing, but i still prefer making characters where i don't have to read & digest the system before i attemp to make a decent character.

What about you?

Nicephorus · September 25, 2006, 01:00:31 PM

Quote from: One Horse TownI tend to be put off by many point buy systems simply because you seem to have to know the system pretty well just to make a character!

Along the same lines, the gm has to know the system extremely well to judge character builds. It's often possible to create something useless or something so powerful that it will swamp the game.

I like BESM but it's wide open enough that crazy things can be made.

I think I prefer a semi-point based system or one where there are distinct pools of points to give guidance (spend this much on abilities, this on skills, this on powers).

Actually D20 is semi point based. You have pts for abilities (sometimes), skill points, and feat slots.

JMcL63 · September 25, 2006, 01:06:03 PM

It really depends on the game I think. I mean, I'd say that random generation is pretty much essential for WFRP. On the other hand, I don't really think it'd work so well in a superhero game, although that would depend on the system I guess.

Caesar Slaad · September 25, 2006, 01:10:19 PM

There was a thread on point buy systems:
http://www.therpgsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1556

However, you seem to specifially be hitting on the point of randomness and point buy subsystems vice systems. That's a horse of a differnet color. Not all "non-random" systems are "point buy" in the classical sense.

As for me - I prefer a little randomness because:
1) I find that players fall into patterns and once they establish a pattern, can "stamp out" the same character every time.
2) Thoughts of optimization can lead to characters that seem less organic, more minmaxed. A little randomness can add a more organic feel to a character.

obryn · September 25, 2006, 01:21:26 PM

I've gone with point-buy for my d20 games since an ill-fated campaign where one of the characters rolled up a nearly-godlike half-orc fighter and just stole the spotlight consistently.

I'd rather have a pretty balanced party where everyone has an equal chance to shine and which doesn't throw off my gamemaster's sense of appropriate challenges.

-O

flyingmice · September 25, 2006, 01:30:21 PM

Quote from: Caesar SlaadThere was a thread on point buy systems:
[url]Not all "non-random" systems are "point but" in the classical sense.

A point often lost in debates like this. I just thought it bore repeating.

"I love cheese! I don't understand people who like peanut butter!"

"Cheese suxxors, peanut butter roxxors!"

"Cheese in the only true way! Peanut butter is for munchkins!"

"Ha! I see more cheese munchkins than peanut butter munchkins!"

"What about pastrami?"

Pause for everyone to ignore the last post....

"Cheese suxxors!!"

-clash

One Horse Town · September 25, 2006, 01:53:23 PM

Didn't know there was a history with this here.

Speaking personally, i wasn't trying to start an us vs them debate, just stating my preference and wondering what others were.

Vellorian · September 25, 2006, 02:06:26 PM

I have read reviews that blasted books for having random based chargen. I have read reviews that blasted books for having point-buy systems.

:shrug:

Sometimes its fun to play with "whatever the dice have given you" and other times its fun to build exactly the character you want to play.

Either way, I'm much more interested in what I do with the character then how it was built.

joewolz · September 25, 2006, 02:37:40 PM

Quote from: VellorianEither way, I'm much more interested in what I do with the character then how it was built.

You and I agree. I really don't care what kind of system a game has, as long as I'm with the right people.

fonkaygarry · September 25, 2006, 02:50:05 PM

Quote from: joewolzYou and I agree. I really don't care what kind of system a game has, as long as I'm with the right people.

I agree, though I would qualify that slightly. Those people have to want the kind of game the system offers. I could probably run a night of Synnibar or Wushu with my usual group without getting lynched; they're just a fun bunch to be around. They'd kill me without flinching if I tried that twice, though.

I'm real easy when it comes to chargen. I like pretty much everything I've run into up to this point (exceptions: Synnibar and other RPG punchlines.) Even Shadowrun's new system gets tolerable after a little while, though I wouldn't want to build a new runner every week.

Wandering Monster · September 25, 2006, 04:13:02 PM

For me, it depends more on the particular game than on the game system. For one-shot games, or those that will only last two or three sessions, I prefer random chargen. However, for any extended campaign I will only play with non-randomly-generated characters.

My bad luck with dice is nearly legendary, and playing a character nearly crippled by a single bad die roll (e.g. playing a 3e fighter who rolls under "2" for hit points for levels 2-5) for months and months on end is no fun at all.

joewolz · September 26, 2006, 08:57:45 AM

Quote from: fonkaygarryI agree, though I would qualify that slightly. Those people have to want the kind of game the system offers. I could probably run a night of Synnibar or Wushu with my usual group without getting lynched; they're just a fun bunch to be around. They'd kill me without flinching if I tried that twice, though.

I've never had that. In every group I've had (and it's been quite a few in the last couple of years), we have always been able to discuss what we want and pick a game that makes us all happy. Or I've been able to pick one that everyone likes. For a while, I had a group that told me they would play anything I wanted to run, and it was awesome as I got to do an entire campaign of Terra Primate.

Edit: added the end sentences

Bagpuss · September 26, 2006, 09:05:00 AM

Quote from: VellorianEither way, I'm much more interested in what I do with the character then how it was built.

I agree with your views and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

Vellorian · September 26, 2006, 07:39:25 PM

Quote from: BagpussI agree with your views and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

Whoa. I've never had someone say that to me before.

Subscription prices are pretty cheap, but you have to be willing to write at least one article a month.

Dominus Nox · September 27, 2006, 09:55:04 PM

Point buy. Absolutely.

I just like the idea of having control over who I'm playing. That's all.

Besides, after seeing some of the attacks those opposing point buy have made against those who like it I feel even more certain it's the right way to go.