Hi,

I use 35 points for PC and other "heroic" characters (as opposed to normal elites who get their 25). Bloodline generation is separate from this, but characters CAN choose to nerf their abilitites to up their bloodline a bit.

That gives a nice standard spread of:

16 (+10 pts), 15 (+8 pts), 14 (+6 pts), 13 (+5 pts), 12 (+4 pts), 10 (+2 pts) = 35 pts total.

None of these stats are too broken - even with a 16 you neeed to be 8th level to get an 18 in a stat, and you can't get a 20 until lvl 16, so not many are going to experience that. Still, with 35 points a player CAN max one stat with 18 (+16 pts), but not two or maybe have two with 17 (+26 pts). Even with the later option he still has some points left. I think this is OK for exceptional people (like PCs).

If you want truly legendary characters try this spread:

17, 16, 15, 14, 12, 12 = 45 pts total

Characters no longer have any bad abilities, and have quite a few pretty good ones. He could even start with four 16 (+4 pts) and still have 5 pts left. At this level things start breaking down a bit IMO. Only suitable for a special type of campaign.

And for the ultimate Epic hero:

18, 17, 16, 15, 12, 12 = 55 pts total

Well, what can I say? You could start with two 18 if you wanted, and still have loads of points left! This level really isn't very useful - if you think its OK, then why not play and all 18 character instead :-D

Ability gains from levels are of course not figured into this, as this is 1st level figures.

I looked into the Conan d20 setting the other day, and found a new kind of rule. It seems that since Conan has perhaps less magic items that even a hard-case BR campaign, they had introduced a new rule for ability gains from level. In ADDITION to the normal gains, you got +11 to ALL abilities at lvls 6, 10, 14, and 18. Sounds pretty mean to men, but then again the characters won't even have Bull's Strength or any Headbands of Intellect +4...

Bjørn

...but I do think that rolling dice is the only REAL way of rolling up PCs, only some players are too scared (or too lawful, Michael)... ;-)