¶ Why We Use Extended Point Buy
In most D&D campaigns, dump stats are minor inconveniences—an 8 in Strength means your wizard is slightly less strong, but it rarely matters in actual play. I wanted something different: dump stats that create real consequences and force meaningful character choices.
Our campaign uses an extended point buy system starting at ability score 6 instead of the standard 8. This seemingly small change fundamentally alters character creation, enabling true optimization while creating genuinely punishing weaknesses.
¶ The Mathematics of Consequence
Standard D&D 5e floors ability scores at 8, giving you a -1 modifier. When we drop that floor to 6, you get a -2 modifier instead. In 5e's bounded accuracy system, that single point difference transforms dump stats from flavor text into mechanical reality.
Consider the trade-off: you could have an 18 in your primary stat right out of the gate (17 base + racial bonus), making you exceptional at your core competency. The price? A genuinely crippling weakness somewhere else.
This is the bargain we're offering: power in exchange for vulnerability.
¶ The HGarmany System: Balanced Min-Maxing
We use the HGarmany 42-point system, which has been rigorously tested by the community and maintains mathematical parity with the standard array.
¶ The Cost Table
| Ability Score | Point Cost |
|---|---|
| 6 | 0 |
| 7 | 1 |
| 8 | 2 |
| 9 | 3 |
| 10 | 4 |
| 11 | 5 |
| 12 | 6 |
| 13 | 8 |
| 14 | 10 |
| 15 | 12 |
| 16 | 14 |
| 17 | 17 |
¶ Why 42 Points?
The standard array (15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8) costs exactly 42 points in this system:
- 15 = 12 points
- 14 = 10 points
- 13 = 8 points
- 12 = 6 points
- 10 = 4 points
- 8 = 2 points
- Total = 42 points
A perfectly balanced spread (13, 13, 13, 12, 12, 12) also totals exactly 42 points. This mathematical parity means the system isn't inherently stronger than standard character creation—it just offers different trade-offs.
¶ Example Builds
The Min-Maxer:
- 17, 15, 12, 11, 8, 6
- Primary stat starts at 18-19 with racial bonuses with a secondary stat at 15-16
- One genuinely crippling weakness (-2 modifier) + 1 other weakness (-1 modifier)
- Cost: 17+12+6+5+2+0 = 42 points
The Generalist:
- 14, 13, 13, 12, 12, 10
- Competent across the board, no major weaknesses
- Cost: 10+8+8+6+6+4 = 42 points
The Specialist with Safety:
- 17, 14, 12, 11, 10, 6
- Exceptional at one thing, decent secondary stat, with only one major flaw
- Cost: 17+10+6+5+4+0 = 42 points
¶ The Critical Jump at 13
Notice the cost structure: getting from 12 to 13 costs +2 points (from 6 to 8), just like the standard point buy jump from 13 to 14. This prevents excessive mid-range stacking while maintaining the expected power curve.
You can't just have all 13s and 14s—the math forces you to make choices.
¶ What It Means to Have a 6
A score of 6 isn't just "not good at something." It's a fundamental character-defining limitation that will come up regularly in play.
¶ Strength 6
You struggle with basic physical tasks. Encumbrance becomes a real concern—you can't carry much. Kicking down a door? You're not helping. Climbing? You need someone to pull you up. Your contributions in physical challenges come from cleverness, not muscle.
¶ Dexterity 6
Your saving throw is genuinely dangerous—you fail Dexterity saves more often than you succeed. Initiative is consistently terrible. Stealth is nearly impossible. You're clumsy, slow to react, and a liability in situations requiring agility. This plays out through the dice—you'll feel it every session.
¶ Constitution 6
Not allowed. Hit points are too fundamental to survival. We're not running a campaign where characters die from getting sneezed on.
¶ Intelligence 6
You speak in broken sentences when stressed. Complex plans go over your head—you need things explained simply and directly. Reading is slow and difficult. You can't keep up with intricate schemes. You're not stupid, but abstract reasoning is genuinely hard for you. This should be roleplayed consistently.
¶ Wisdom 6
You lack common sense and struggle to learn from experience. Pattern recognition is difficult. You miss obvious social cues. Your judgment is poor—you make impulsive decisions that seem fine in the moment but are obviously bad in retrospect. Insight and Perception checks are painful.
¶ Charisma 6
People find you off-putting. You can't convince anyone of anything through force of personality—you need evidence, leverage, or help from others. Intimidation doesn't work (who's scared of you?). Deception is transparent. Performance is cringe-worthy. You're the person who makes situations worse by speaking up. Social encounters are challenging.
¶ The Roleplay Contract
If you take a 6, you must roleplay it. Not as comedy relief (unless that fits your character), but as a genuine limitation shaping how your character moves through the world.
The DM and other players will hold you to this. If you have Intelligence 6 and you're explaining complex battle tactics, someone will call it out. If you have Charisma 6 and you're smooth-talking the guard, that's not how your character works—you need a different approach.
This isn't about punishing you. It's about creating authentic characters with real flaws that generate interesting story moments.
¶ Making Your Choice
When you sit down to build your character, ask yourself:
Do I want to be exceptional at something in exchange for being genuinely bad at something else?
If yes, this system gives you that option. If you'd rather be competent across the board, you can build that too—but you won't reach the same heights in your primary stat early in the game.
Both approaches are valid. The system simply expands your options while maintaining balance.
¶ Final Thoughts
Extended point buy isn't about making characters stronger. It's about making more interesting choices during character creation. The min-maxer gets their power fantasy, but pays for it with real vulnerability. The generalist stays safe but sacrifices peak performance.
Whatever you choose, you'll be building a character with clear strengths and weaknesses, creating opportunities for the party to cover each other's gaps and for you to find creative solutions when your weaknesses come into play.
That's exactly what makes long-form collaborative storytelling work.