Each character gets 20 attribute points (AP) per level, starting at level 10. 6 of your AP are placed for you automatically—one per attribute (STR, CON, DEX, VIT, INT, WIS). Human races can then place the remaining 14 AP wherever they like within soft caps of 5 per level.
Other races can place 10 wherever they want to within soft caps of 5 per level. The final four AP for non-humans (any besides kojani, mordebi, qaliathari, or thestran) are placed automatically based on the race.
Points placed automatically count against the soft cap of 5 per level. Additionally, characters get racial bonuses to their soft caps. These are called preferred stats and allow characters of a race to flesh out in a way that reflects the traits of the race. Human races get soft cap bonuses to all attributes. This means that the soft caps for humans are 6 per level. Each other race gets 4 soft cap bonus points spread across 2 or 3 attributes.
The racial AP and soft cap bonuses are always for the same attribute. This means that you will always need to spend 4 AP to reach the soft cap for an attribute.
Please review the chart below to learn about racial bonuses:
- racial AP bonuses
- racial soft cap bonuses
- analysis of potential
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For Min/Max People
It's very hard to nail down the absolutes in Vanguard, but I know you'll want to try. The free points each level ensure that everyone will get 41 points added to each attribute on the way to level 50, the level cap at launch. With a hard cap of 18 times character level, I believe any plan for maximizing an attribute with gear will meet with frustration. 900 (18 x 50) is simply too large a number to think of reaching when even the highest soft cap is 378. Thus, racial stats will determine the realistic caps for any attribute. Let me see how much I can help you in identifying important attributes to build up:
- Best attributes for tanks: DEX, STR, CON, INT, VIT, WIS (in that order)
- Race that best fits tank based on the above: lesser giant, orc, halfing
- Best attributes for melees: STR, DEX, CON, INT, VIT, WIS (in that order)
- Races that best fit tank based on the above: lesser giant, orc, varanthari
- Best attributes for healers: VIT, WIS, INT, CON, DEX, STR (in that order)
- Races that best fit healer based on the above: goblin, raki, wood elf
- Best attributes for casters: INT, WIS, VIT, CON, DEX, STR (in that order)
- Race that best fits caster based on the above: gnome, dark elf, high elf
Keep in mind that any race can max out 3 attributes at once within the soft cap. The difference will be in how high that soft cap is. Your choice of a race will help you get closer to the hard cap of 900 after buffs and gear.
The attributes in Vanguard are also complicated, making pretty hard to limit yourself to 3. Try being a tank who chooses to min INT. You'll have a hard time telling who has aggro from that add. For once, it looks like we have a game that tries to discourage the min/max build approach.
Finally, consider your role in a group and how other aspects of character development might influence your build. Blood Mages have the ability to bond with someone to share his physical damage. This means DEX could be very important for a Blood Mage (to increase the dodge chance) and likely explains why Sigil had that as one of the AP bonuses for that class until just before the end of beta. Shamans can be built to add melee or spell damage depending on the selection of patron by that particular Shaman. Of course, the primary function of a Shaman is to heal, but different Shaman builds could be effective based on the choice of patron.
Conclusion
Vanguard works hard to put new twists on old systems, providing gamers with a set of attributes that are meaningful to practically any class. On top of that, the formulas -as best I understand them- make character customization via gear very realistic. One tank might decide to wear gear that adds to DEX so that he takes less physical damage. Another tank might decide to focus on physical resistance to achieve the same effect. The possibilities are many, so have fun planning your character!