The problem with Point-buy or standard array is that these is no aspect of random fate. Characters generated this way will always have a sameness to them. You want a way to introduce some element of the fickle finger of fate without having characters that suck.
The problem with Point-buy or standard array is that these is no aspect of random fate. Characters generated this way will always have a sameness to them. You want a way to introduce some element of the fickle finger of fate without having characters that suck.
But if you're throwing everything to the fickle finger of Fate, how do you deal with the 1-2 players that tank on their rolls? How do you keep them from feeling like they're lagging behind the rest of the party? Rerolling a bad roll is just 'random until I like the result' which IMHO is worse than just assigning points.
There are plenty of ways to reduce variance in the dice rolls. Just going with roll 4D6 and keep the best three not only increases the mean but reduces the variance in the results.
Rolling 7 sets of 4D6 and keeping the best 6 produces decent starts reliably - but makes characters that have some quirks to roleplay around.
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No thanks. Truth be told, I like point-buy.
The problem with Point-buy or standard array is that these is no aspect of random fate. Characters generated this way will always have a sameness to them. You want a way to introduce some element of the fickle finger of fate without having characters that suck.
But if you're throwing everything to the fickle finger of Fate, how do you deal with the 1-2 players that tank on their rolls? How do you keep them from feeling like they're lagging behind the rest of the party? Rerolling a bad roll is just 'random until I like the result' which IMHO is worse than just assigning points.
There are plenty of ways to reduce variance in the dice rolls. Just going with roll 4D6 and keep the best three not only increases the mean but reduces the variance in the results.
Rolling 7 sets of 4D6 and keeping the best 6 produces decent starts reliably - but makes characters that have some quirks to roleplay around.