Sadmad Point-Buy (3.5e Variant Rule)

Author: Sulacu (talk) Date Created: December 17, 2014 Status: Penguin Editing: Clarity edits only please

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Sadmad Point-Buy

For those who think that current point-buy rules favour single-attribute dependent builds too much, here is a Point Buy system that aims to give both SAD and MAD builds roughly equal firepower by somewhat evening out later stat gains. Hence, 'SadMad' Point-Buy.

This article is still in experiment and subject to change as I see fit.

Construct your Array

Sadmad Point-Buy aims to make multiple attribute dependence more viable by reducing the cost of subsequent attributes. Basically, you're still free to pump everything in a single 18 at fairly modest Point-Buy, but for a more spread-out array you will find that that second 16 won't cost you quite as many points as the first. Because of this, when you use Sadmad Point-Buy, you make an ability score array first, and assign the stats of your array afterward.

Ability Point Cost

First, you decide what your highest ability score should be, as per the table below.

Table: Sadmad Ability Point Cost

Highest Ability Score	Cost in Points1
8	0
9	+1
10	+1
11	+1
12	+2
13	+2
14	+3
15	+3
16	+4
17	+4
18	+5
Cumulative. So, having a 15 as your highest score costs 13 points.

For every subsequent ability score, reduce every point cost in the above table by 1, to a minimum of +1 point cost per point of stat increase. If your highest ability score is 16 it will cost you a total of 17 points to buy, but if your second ability score is also 16, it will only set you back 12 extra points.

Sadmad Ability Score Array

Following these rules, here you find the total point costs for all six ability scores, from highest to lowest. Note that, for ease of calculation, the lowest three ability scores in a sadmad array can always be interchanged on a point for point basis.

Table: Building your Sadmad Array

Ability Score	Point Cost By Array Placement
	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th
8	0	0	0	0	0	0
9	1	1	1	1	1	1
10	2	2	2	2	2	2
11	3	3	3	3	3	3
12	5	4	4	4	4	4
13	7	5	5	5	5	5
14	10	7	6	6	6	6
15	13	9	7	7	7	7
16	17	12	9	8	8	8
17	21	15	11	9	9	9
18	26	19	14	11	10	10

Commoner Sadmad Point-Buy (18 pt)

These are example ability score arrays for 18-point Sadmad Point-Buy. This power level is mostly beholden to NPCs, NPC-strength characters, and your everyman-style characters struggling to survive in an unfair world. To see the effects of Sadmad Point-Buy more closely, the normal point-buy costs for regular 3.5 and pathfinder point buy is added here and below for the sake of comparison.

• 14-10-10-10-10-8 — 14 pts (3.5e), 3 pts (PF).
• 13-12-12-10-9-8 — 16 pts (3.5e), 4 pts (PF).
• 12-12-12-11-10-8 — 17 pts (3.5e), 5 pts (PF).
• 11-11-11-11-11-11 — 18 pts (3.5e), 6 pts (PF).

Expert Sadmad Point-Buy (25 pt)

These are example ability score arrays for 25-point Sadmad Point-Buy. This power level is usable for low power campaigns where the players are competent mortals with realistic levels of ability and talent. This point buy is a sufficient base point from which any class is viable, but would be generally beholden to skilled NPCs in more moderately powered campaigns.

• 16-10-10-10-10-8 — 18 pts (3.5e), 8 pts (PF).
• 15-12-12-10-10-8 — 20 pts (3.5e), 9 pts (PF).
• 14-14-12-10-10-8 — 20 pts (3.5e), 10 pts (PF).
• 14-13-12-12-10-8 — 21 pts (3.5e), 10 pts (PF).
• 13-13-12-12-12-9 — 23 pts (3.5e), 11 pts (PF).
• 12-12-12-12-12-12 — 24 pts (3.5e), 12 pts (PF).

Talented Sadmad Point-Buy (32 pt)

These are example ability score arrays for 32-point Sadmad Point-Buy. This power level is suited to highly skilled and naturally talented folks in an otherwise fairly realistic world. This point buy is recommended for your average 'adventurer' style character and is the standard for mid-level power.

• 18-10-10-10-8-8 — 22 pts (3.5e), 13 pts (PF).
• 17-12-12-10-9-8 — 24 pts (3.5e), 14 pts (PF).
• 16-14-12-10-10-8 — 24 pts (3.5e), 15 pts (PF).
• 15-14-12-12-10-10 — 26 pts (3.5e), 16 pts (PF).
• 14-14-14-12-12-9 — 27 pts (3.5e), 18 pts (PF).
• 13-13-13-13-13-13 — 30 pts (3.5e), 18 pts (PF).

Heroic Sadmad Point-Buy (41 pt)

These are example ability score arrays for 41-point Sadmad Point-Buy. This power level is suited for characters that can be considered uniquely gifted or talented at something. The 'world's strongest man' Magnus Ver Magnusson, or a genius intellect like Albert Einstein may be in this camp, as would those that need to function at high level in all respects, like elite special forces soldiers. This point buy is recommended for high-level epic fantasy characters.

• 18-14-12-10-10-8 — 30 pts (3.5e), 22 pts (PF).
• 17-14-14-12-11-8 — 32 pts (3.5e), 24 pts (PF).
• 16-16-14-12-10-8 — 32 pts (3.5e), 25 pts (PF).
• 16-14-14-14-13-8 — 33 pts (3.5e), 26 pts (PF).
• 15-15-15-14-14-8 — 36 pts (3.5e), 29 pts (PF).
• 14-14-14-14-14-14 — 36 pts (3.5e), 30 pts (PF).

Paragon Sadmad Point-Buy (50 pt)

These are example ability score arrays for 50-point Sadmad Point-Buy. This power level generally goes beyond human competency, and is suited for characters that are true paragons of their kind. Think Bruce Lee. Or Batman.

• 18-18-10-10-9-8 — 37 pts (3.5e), 31 pts (PF).
• 18-16-14-12-10-8 — 38 pts (3.5e), 32 pts (PF).
• 18-14-14-14-13-8 — 39 pts (3.5e), 33 pts (PF).
• 17-16-16-14-10-8 — 41 pts (3.5e), 36 pts (PF).
• 16-15-14-14-14-14 — 42 pts (3.5e), 37 pts (PF).
• 16-16-16-16-10-10 — 44 pts (3.5e), 40 pts (PF).
• 15-15-15-15-15-15 — 48 pts (3.5e), 42 pts (PF).

Recommended Additional Houserules

Here are a set of simple house rules that may aid players in using Sadmad point buy more effectively.

Faster Ability Training: Instead of gaining a +1 to any ability score at every character level divisible by 4, a character gains ability scores as per the following table. This way, you only need an ability score of 13 to become able to cast 9th level spells at 17th level, ensuring any class is viable even at the lowest level of power.

Table: Faster Ability Training

Level1	Ability Score Increases2	Max. Increase2
2nd	+1 to one ability score	+1
5th	+1 to two ability scores	+2
8th	+1 to one ability score	+3
11th	+1 to two ability scores	+4
14th	+1 to one ability score	+5
17th	+1 to two ability scores	+6
20th	+1 to one ability score	+7
Epic level ability score increases continue with the same pattern. You may put multiple +1s gained at the same level in the same score, provided the total increase of the ability score as a result of leveling does not exceed the number under Max. Increase.

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