4th edition question: package deal pricing

[LouGoncey]

When pricing a package deal in 4th edition, when you use increased Characteristic Maxima, do you also buy up the Characteristic as well?

 

Example: if I buy Dexterity Characteristic Maxima as 23, it costs 6 CPs. Does that also mean I start with a 13 in Dexterity?

 

Thanks in advance...

[Chris Goodwin]

When pricing a package deal in 4th edition, when you use increased Characteristic Maxima, do you also buy up the Characteristic as well?

No, you don't. Which is partly why that method went away in 5e.

 

Example: if I buy Dexterity Characteristic Maxima as 23, it costs 6 CPs. Does that also mean I start with a 13 in Dexterity?

 

Thanks in advance...

That would have cost 9 points. Had you then bought 23 Dexterity, you would have spent 39 points on your DEX, plus 9 points to increase the maximum, or 48 points. If you hadn't increased the maximum, that 23 Dexterity would have cost you 30 points (for DEX 20) and an additional 18 points (to buy above NCM) or 48 points.  

 

Essentially, buying up NCM meant you paid points for the added potential, but only got any benefit out of it if you bought up to the max, in which case you paid the same amount of points overall as someone who didn't buy the increased maxima.  

[LouGoncey]

So I looked at how 5e did it and they do not effect Characterisic Maximas at all. I will just redo the Package Deals to 5e standards then. Much easier to deal with. Thanks.

[Lucius]

So I looked at how 5e did it and they do not effect Characterisic Maximas at all. I will just redo the Package Deals to 5e standards then. Much easier to deal with. Thanks.

 

Even better idea - abolish Characteristic Maxima.

 

Lucius Alexander

 

Maximizing palindromedaries

[LouGoncey]

Even better idea - abolish Characteristic Maxima.

 

Lucius Alexander

 

Maximizing palindromedaries

This actually makes a ton of sense.  Consider it done...

[LouGoncey]

The more I think about, the more I think this is a great idea. Why should a mechanical limit exist in a game where the GM is supposed to be in complete charge. The GM should just set a limit on the characteristics...

[Wyrm Ouroboros]

The more I think about, the more I think this is a great idea. Why should a mechanical limit exist in a game where the GM is supposed to be in complete charge. The GM should just set a limit on the characteristics...

 

Because the mechanical limit is there to put a thematic limit into numbers.  Characters have always been able to go above the Normal Characteristic Maxima - but at a cost, which is generally x2 cost for each point up to the hard limit.  Setting your characteristic maxima is a statement that 'this is where you go from being a normal (if athletic) guy to a truly Heroic individual.'  This is the sort of stuff that you set so that someone can go over it, and people are sure to go 'wow, that guy is strong/fast/smart/can take a hit!!!'

 

When it comes to package deals for other races, the package buys off the 'x2 cost' for part of that characteristic increase; while it costs a little bit (per se) to be of that race, you can go above normal human without otherwise taking that x2 hit.  On the flip side, if you have a characteristic that is lower, you're getting a discount because that x2 hit is going to come sooner - you're getting the points back to start with, because that Dex score for the Stone Men of Dargath just ain't as important, while they're all very buff sorts of fellows.  It's thus easier to get a 25 STR Stone Man, but you're going to pay more to get a 20 DEX Stone Man.

 

Yes, it might cost a bit, and make less sense if you're not going to go to the new max for your 'theme attribute' (such as STR for a Stone Man of Dargath), but that's what you get for the money, as it were.