"Elite Array" vs. Point Buy?

[stripes]

Does anyone use the Elite Array? Or does everyone use Point Buy? (well, or roll dice?)

In 3E my wife always has this fit of panic staring at a blank character sheet. Eventually she gets over it and makes a character. I never really understood it.

Last night I made a 4E charactor. So I'm looking at point buy charts, then the powers, then the races, then back at powers, then at races, then skills, then races, then point buy charts. I have to start somewhere. Hey! Ranger sounds cool, what race makes a good ranger? Great, now...point buy charts...

Gah! So I pick the elite array and have this nagging feeling that I am missing something...

I think I understand my wife better!

I would go back to rolling dice, but I really want to try 4E the way the designers intended it before I go wondering off on my own!

Does anyone else have this problem? Does the elite array suck? Did skipping point buy cost me? What am I doing? Who am I again?

 

[Mr. Teapot]

My wife typically picks the Elite Array for building characters. I think the responses you'll get here will favor point buy of Elite Array, whereas most 4th ed players in the real world are more likely just using the Elite Array. Or ignoring what the rules say and rolling or following their GM's local crazy houserules.


Anyway, the Elite Array is okay, but I prefer having my two lowest stats at 8 and 10 rather than 10 and 11. So I typically get a pointbuy that's pretty close to the standard array, but with an extra point here or there. Some classes need more good stats than others, but iI've never found a character where I couldn't totally abandon some stat. Plus, an 8 gives me a flaw, which is more fun to roleplay. Dumb, unwise or clumsy but otherwise hypercompetent characters are fun to play.

 

[small pumpkin man]

The Array is just an example of possible point buy usage. There's nothing right or wrong about using it.

 

[kouk]

The Array is just an example of possible point buy usage. There's nothing right or wrong about using it.

Right. If you wanted to, you could use the Point Buy to exactly replicate the Array. All you are missing out on is the extreme precision that min-maxing your stats with point buy can grant, which may or may not be necessary for your character (and maybe not something you want to start with right at the beginning).

 

[SSquirrel]

We currently only have 3 players and planned to have more heroic PCs. We're using one each of 13-18. You can roll a set of 4d6 reroll 1 and 2 for the DM and if it turns up better keep it. Conveniently it also means that you can multiclass into any class youw ant since your lowest stat is 13

 

[garyh]

They're not equal. The elite array is technically inferior to point buy.

Elite array is:
16 14 13 12 11 10

One of the examples of point buy is:
16 14 14 12 11 10

Thus, the elite array is equal to a 20 point buy. Seems goofy to me, as if they just gave you a 22 point buy elite array, it'd make it so whether a character used point buy or array, they'd be even.

Plus, I find the distribution of the elite array annoying - two odd numbers (no help till level 10), and like Mr. Teapot, I prefer the option of having an 8.

 

[Center-of-All]

They're not equal. The elite array is technically inferior to point buy.

Elite array is:
16 14 13 12 11 10

One of the examples of point buy is:
16 14 14 12 11 10

Thus, the elite array is equal to a 20 point buy. Seems goofy to me, as if they just gave you a 22 point buy elite array, it'd make it so whether a character used point buy or array, they'd be even.

Plus, I find the distribution of the elite array annoying - two odd numbers (no help till level 10), and like Mr. Teapot, I prefer the option of having an 8.

No, the example point buy is 16 14 14 12 11 8. The elite array is 22 points, it just buys up it's 8 to a 10. Techincially, they are even.

 

[fba827]

The array gives you more "above average" stats.
A point buy allows for some exceptionally good and some average/lower than average stats.

Really just a matter of preference
1) Do you want it simple without feeling overwhelmed from adding up the point buy (then go for the array)
2) Do you want to push some of your stats high and leave some low and don't mind the number crunching (then go for point buy)

It's all a matter of preference.
Don't stress about it, just decide what you're more comfortable with and go with it.

And, you could do point-buy and end up with the scores presented in the array, so you are technically on the same "starting ground"

 

[garyh]

No, the example point buy is 16 14 14 12 11 8. The elite array is 22 points, it just buys up it's 8 to a 10. Techincially, they are even.

D'oh! I feel silly. You are correct.

I still don't like the elite array, though.

 

[silentounce]

D'oh! I feel silly. You are correct.

I still don't like the elite array, though.

Elitist!!

Oh, wait...