Welcome to the definitive **Pathfinder Point Buy Calculator**. This tool allows you to quickly determine the total points spent on your character’s six base ability scores (Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma) and compare it against your campaign’s point budget.
Pathfinder Point Buy Calculator
Enter your desired base scores (7 to 18) and your campaign’s point budget to check your total cost.
Total Points Spent:
0Pathfinder Point Buy Calculator Formula:
Total Points Spent = Σ (Cost of Ability Score)
Where the Cost of Ability Score (C) is defined by the following table:
C(7)=-4, C(8)=-2, C(9)=-1, C(10)=0, C(11)=1, C(12)=2, C(13)=3, C(14)=5, C(15)=7, C(16)=10, C(17)=13, C(18)=17
Formula Source: Archives of Nethys (Pathfinder Rules), d20PFSRD
Variables:
- Strength (STR): Represents raw physical power.
- Dexterity (DEX): Measures agility, reflexes, and balance.
- Constitution (CON): Represents health and stamina.
- Intelligence (INT): Determines how well your character learns and reasons.
- Wisdom (WIS): Measures common sense, awareness, and intuition.
- Charisma (CHA): Represents personality, ability to lead, and appearance.
- Campaign Point Budget: The total points allowed by the Game Master (GM) for generating scores (e.g., 10, 15, 20, or 25).
Related Calculators:
- D&D 5e Point Buy Cost Calculator
- Pathfinder Skill Point Calculator
- Character Sheet Base HP Calculator
- Ability Score Modifier Lookup Tool
What is Pathfinder Point Buy Calculator?
The Pathfinder Point Buy Calculator is an essential tool for players and Game Masters (GMs) utilizing the optional Point Buy system for ability score generation. Unlike rolling dice, which introduces significant variance, the Point Buy system guarantees that every player receives the same budget of points to spend on their six core ability scores.
This ensures a balanced party and allows players to strategically assign their resources to create the specific character build they envision. The core of the system is the incremental cost: buying higher scores becomes exponentially more expensive, preventing players from simply maxing out a single ability at the expense of others.
This calculator simplifies the process by totaling the cumulative cost of your chosen scores, instantly verifying if your planned build fits within the GM’s specified budget (typically 15, 20, or 25 points).
How to Calculate Pathfinder Point Buy (Example):
Let’s calculate the total point cost for a standard 15-point budget character with the following scores: STR 14, DEX 12, CON 13, INT 10, WIS 12, CHA 10.
- Determine the cost for each score:
- STR 14: Costs 5 Points
- DEX 12: Costs 2 Points
- CON 13: Costs 3 Points
- INT 10: Costs 0 Points
- WIS 12: Costs 2 Points
- CHA 10: Costs 0 Points
- Sum the individual costs: 5 + 2 + 3 + 0 + 2 + 0 = 12 Total Points Spent.
- Compare against the budget: If the budget is 15, the character has 15 – 12 = 3 points remaining.
- Conclusion: The character is legally built and has 3 points left over to increase other scores or save for future consideration.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
What is the maximum score I can purchase?
The maximum base score you can purchase using the Point Buy system is typically 18, which costs 17 points.
What is the typical point budget used by GMs?
The most common budgets are 10 points (low-powered, gritty campaign), 15 points (standard), 20 points (high-powered), and 25 points (epic or mythic campaigns).
Do these points include racial adjustments?
No. The scores you purchase here are your BASE scores. Racial adjustments (like a +2 bonus) are applied *after* the point buy calculation is complete.
Can I have a score lower than 10 using point buy?
Yes. Scores of 7, 8, and 9 result in negative point costs, effectively giving you ‘refund’ points back to spend on other, higher scores.