The value cost of Characteristics in the Point buy system.

[Infojunky]

Have been noodling around with the point buy system for character creation in conjunction with the 2300AD rules sets additions and i keep tripping over the points.

In that Characteristics costs don't seem to track with any counting system that is related to the characteristics utility within the game.

Have any of y'all noticed this when you are using this?

 

[CosmicGamer]

characteristics utility within the game.

Please explain what this phrase means to you.

For example, I've seen many people who like action oriented games and feel Soc has far less utilization in a game than say Dex. For others, playing noble in a game with lots of political intrigue makes Soc have more utility within the game. Do you think different characteristics should have different point values?

Another example, Doesn't matter much to some if their stat is a 6 or an 8 because it's the same DM for tasks. Do you think there should be some point cost = to DM relationship? But for the physical characteristics, their utility to soak up damage makes every point possibly useful.

So, what do you mean by "characteristics utility within the game"?

 

[ShawnDriscoll]

Characteristics can leap up when mustering out. Point-Buy may not take this into account.

 

[sideranautae]

Characteristics can leap up when mustering out. Point-Buy may not take this into account.

excellent point

 

[Infojunky]

characteristics utility within the game.

Please explain what this phrase means to you.

Sorry wasn't clear, it is about the comparison of Characteristic level with the point cost of said level and how the two don't seem to be related.

It isn't about any specific Characteristic just the interrelation of the costs...

 

[CosmicGamer]

it is about the comparison of Characteristic level with the point cost of said level and how the two don't seem to be related.

The points needed increases as the characteristic goes up. That's fairly related, no?

The fact that it goes to 2 point, then 3 as the characteristic goes up? Perhaps just to reflect the rarity of the high characteristic? Create some balance so that it's less likely for someone to pay for all characteristics to be high?

Or is it that it goes to 2 pts then one again?

2 pts from 8 to 9 then back to 1 point from 9 to 10. 2pts makes it a little more costly to get that +1 DM at 9. 1pt at 10 because why would anyone go from 9 to 10 "I've got my +1, why waste another 2 pts..". shrug

I can think of some different ways of doing it but any change would just be a point or two and doesn't impact the outcome significantly. The number of terms and overall points are what really makes a difference.

Characteristics can leap up when mustering out. Point-Buy may not take this into account.

Up to player to decide if they want to buy muster rolls in point buy and it would be just like normal muster - random chance for those characteristic "leaps".

 

[Infojunky]

Or is it that it goes to 2 pts then one again?

2 pts from 8 to 9 then back to 1 point from 9 to 10. 2pts makes it a little more costly to get that +1 DM at 9. 1pt at 10 because why would anyone go from 9 to 10 "I've got my +1, why waste another 2 pts..". shrug

I think that is it, just was banging my head against the logic of it.... I knew there was some reasoning that I was missing, just the household was distracting me every 5 minutes and well we all know what that is like...

Thanks for the help....