I let the players make their stats anything whose numbers add up to 80 total, so they can have 4 good stats, which allows them to make the oddball builds that previously could never be remotely viable actually work
When I was a kid we would roll 1d20 for each stat. No changes. Characters were almost unplayable - maybe this is why we never made it past the third level...
This poll shows that 4d6 is the most used method by a very very wide margin. Of course it is not a perfect sampling, but 3000+ votes is not too bad.
Though an awfully high percentage of commenters (relative to the number of people who voted for that option) actually use some sort of variant, typically some sort of check for low stats.
This poll shows that 4d6 is the most used method by a very very wide margin. Of course it is not a perfect sampling, but 3000+ votes is not too bad.
Though an awfully high percentage of commenters (relative to the number of people who voted for that option) actually use some sort of variant, typically some sort of check for low stats.
Well, 192 people did vote for a homebrew version of one of the above and it is one of the two options that really need any explaining.
Before 3e, it was 3d6 in order. We played that way for decade. I don't allow point buy or standard array. Part of the game, to me, is that players stats are random.
5e went way too far with stat bonuses anyway. No way a level 1 character should have +5 or more to attack rolls.
Wouldn't that require a 20 in the attacking stat? What systems allow a 20 in a level 1 character other than 4d6 drop lowest? Point buy and Standard Array won't get you there. And you still need to pick a particular race to get there. I never played 3e; just AD&D and 5e.
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I've never heard of that. No way would I allow it. I really don't even like allowing 4d6, I think it should be 3d6, but players always expect to roll 4.
Wouldn't that require a 20 in the attacking stat? What systems allow a 20 in a level 1 character other than 4d6 drop lowest? Point buy and Standard Array won't get you there. And you still need to pick a particular race to get there. I never played 3e; just AD&D and 5e.
4d6. If you roll an 18, get two bonus points by race for yourmain stat, you start with a 20. Then you have +7 with your proficiency. It's ridiculous.
Coming across more OSR content I've read a number of really great articles on rolling stats.
Some of the more innovative ways of rolling stats that I personally like are:
2d6+6 - generally enables folk to get pretty decent stats, also means that 8 is the lowest potential stat.
4d4+4 - Similarly to above, this would mean there is a possibility of a 'perfect' roll of 20
18d6 - Pool the results together in groups of 3 to create stats, possibility of re-rolling 1's. This can be a lot harder method to get right but allows PC's to create dump stats / flaws they can work into their narrative.
The first question would be "How heroic / strong do you want your PC's to feel"... I like offering people the ability to roll 2x statblocks and choose the one which they prefer; saw a DM use a method where he would roll a statblock alongside the player and the player could choose which they used.
As a DM, I don't allow my players to roll, there is too high a chance that someone will end up mad powerful and someone will have complete garbo of stats. I let the use standard array or point buy.
As a player, I use point buy, even when given the option of rolling. I am not a min maxer, and something about having an 18 in a stat at level 1 just feels like cheating. I don't like being the strongest character, because then someone else might feel overshadowed and walk away from the game forever. I absolutely DETEST having really high stats, because it makes me feel I'm am taking away from everyone else's fun. I like fun characters, and I find fun in characters that are funny or weird. I have fun by knowing everyone else has fun.
I also like the customization of point buy, it really allows you to make a character yours, it's not dependant on dice rolls, and it doesn't feel one dimensional.
My group does 4d6, drop the lowest. We all roll 3 sets and then choose which set to use. That way there is randomness still involved, but no one is stuck with a set of ability scores that doesn’t work for the kind of character they want to build. True, negative modifiers can indeed bring unexpected and fun development for characters, but due to schedules etc. we only get one four or five hour session a month. That’s not much time to play and you might as well have what the kind of character you want as opposed to one you are not so excited about.
You end up with a powerful and unique character. Once you allow players to assign stats, you’ve basically handed over the game to them.
You aren’t supposed to force players. You are supposed to hand the game to them. Its their game, you just help it along.
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This isn't actually a signature, just something I copy and paste onto the bottom of all my posts. Or is it? Yep, it is. Or is it..? I’m a hobbit, and the master cranial imploder of the "Oops, I Accidently Destroyed Someone's Brain" cult. Extended sig. I'm actually in Limbo, it says I'm in Mechanus because that's where I get my WiFi from. Please don't tell the modrons, they're still angry from the 'Spawning Stone' fiasco. No connection to Dragonslayer8 other than knowing them in real life.
Coming across more OSR content I've read a number of really great articles on rolling stats.
Some of the more innovative ways of rolling stats that I personally like are:
2d6+6 - generally enables folk to get pretty decent stats, also means that 8 is the lowest potential stat.
4d4+4 - Similarly to above, this would mean there is a possibility of a 'perfect' roll of 20
18d6 - Pool the results together in groups of 3 to create stats, possibility of re-rolling 1's. This can be a lot harder method to get right but allows PC's to create dump stats / flaws they can work into their narrative.
The first question would be "How heroic / strong do you want your PC's to feel"... I like offering people the ability to roll 2x statblocks and choose the one which they prefer; saw a DM use a method where he would roll a statblock alongside the player and the player could choose which they used.
See my post I think on page 2 regarding the pool option. Pretty close to yours. And also, expresses the opinion about characters being heroic.
my problem with most 'innovative' stat rolling system is that it tends to both increase average stats and also concentrate them.
That is why I prefer my system, which is always some version of 1 very great, 1 great, 1 good, 2 randomish, and 1 bad. The most recent version of it is:
Pick 'best' stat, roll. 14+d4 (Av 16.5)
Pick 2nd stat, 12 +d6 (Av 15.5)
Pick 3rd stat roll 2d4 + 10 (Av 15)
Pick 4th and 5th, roll 3d6 (Av 10.5)
Pick 6th stat, roll 4+2d4 (Av 9, max 12)
This allows for people without totally min-maxed stats, and makes for better role playing if you have good players.
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lol yeah i didn't realize that stats were supposed to start so low,,but i mean like,,,,I don't mind the high stats so...
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That is an interesting method for determining stats. Could you elaborate more on the process?
She/Her College Student Player and Dungeon Master
I usually do 4d6 drop the lowest. Occasionally, I’ll use standard array or a slightly improved version of standard array.
Please check out my homebrew and give me feedback!
Subclasses | Races | Spells | Magic Items | Monsters | Feats | Backgrounds
I let the players make their stats anything whose numbers add up to 80 total, so they can have 4 good stats, which allows them to make the oddball builds that previously could never be remotely viable actually work
When I was a kid we would roll 1d20 for each stat. No changes. Characters were almost unplayable - maybe this is why we never made it past the third level...
This poll shows that 4d6 is the most used method by a very very wide margin. Of course it is not a perfect sampling, but 3000+ votes is not too bad.
She/Her College Student Player and Dungeon Master
Though an awfully high percentage of commenters (relative to the number of people who voted for that option) actually use some sort of variant, typically some sort of check for low stats.
Well, 192 people did vote for a homebrew version of one of the above and it is one of the two options that really need any explaining.
She/Her College Student Player and Dungeon Master
4d6 now.
Before 3e, it was 3d6 in order. We played that way for decade. I don't allow point buy or standard array. Part of the game, to me, is that players stats are random.
5e went way too far with stat bonuses anyway. No way a level 1 character should have +5 or more to attack rolls.
Wouldn't that require a 20 in the attacking stat? What systems allow a 20 in a level 1 character other than 4d6 drop lowest? Point buy and Standard Array won't get you there. And you still need to pick a particular race to get there. I never played 3e; just AD&D and 5e.
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
Wow...
I've never heard of that. No way would I allow it. I really don't even like allowing 4d6, I think it should be 3d6, but players always expect to roll 4.
4d6. If you roll an 18, get two bonus points by race for yourmain stat, you start with a 20. Then you have +7 with your proficiency. It's ridiculous.
Coming across more OSR content I've read a number of really great articles on rolling stats.
Some of the more innovative ways of rolling stats that I personally like are:
The first question would be "How heroic / strong do you want your PC's to feel"... I like offering people the ability to roll 2x statblocks and choose the one which they prefer; saw a DM use a method where he would roll a statblock alongside the player and the player could choose which they used.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
As a DM, I don't allow my players to roll, there is too high a chance that someone will end up mad powerful and someone will have complete garbo of stats. I let the use standard array or point buy.
As a player, I use point buy, even when given the option of rolling. I am not a min maxer, and something about having an 18 in a stat at level 1 just feels like cheating. I don't like being the strongest character, because then someone else might feel overshadowed and walk away from the game forever. I absolutely DETEST having really high stats, because it makes me feel I'm am taking away from everyone else's fun. I like fun characters, and I find fun in characters that are funny or weird. I have fun by knowing everyone else has fun.
I also like the customization of point buy, it really allows you to make a character yours, it's not dependant on dice rolls, and it doesn't feel one dimensional.
D&D is a game for nerds... so I guess I'm one :p
My group does 4d6, drop the lowest. We all roll 3 sets and then choose which set to use. That way there is randomness still involved, but no one is stuck with a set of ability scores that doesn’t work for the kind of character they want to build. True, negative modifiers can indeed bring unexpected and fun development for characters, but due to schedules etc. we only get one four or five hour session a month. That’s not much time to play and you might as well have what the kind of character you want as opposed to one you are not so excited about.
You aren’t supposed to force players. You are supposed to hand the game to them. Its their game, you just help it along.
This isn't actually a signature, just something I copy and paste onto the bottom of all my posts. Or is it? Yep, it is. Or is it..? I’m a hobbit, and the master cranial imploder of the "Oops, I Accidently Destroyed Someone's Brain" cult. Extended sig. I'm actually in Limbo, it says I'm in Mechanus because that's where I get my WiFi from. Please don't tell the modrons, they're still angry from the 'Spawning Stone' fiasco.
No connection to Dragonslayer8 other than knowing them in real life.
If my dm allows it, i prefer to use 4d6 drop lowest method but rolled 7 times and drop the lowest set as well. Then pick which set for which stat.
See my post I think on page 2 regarding the pool option. Pretty close to yours. And also, expresses the opinion about characters being heroic.
If you want it done, I can do it
If I can't do it, I will get it done
If I can't get it done, you don't need it done
my problem with most 'innovative' stat rolling system is that it tends to both increase average stats and also concentrate them.
That is why I prefer my system, which is always some version of 1 very great, 1 great, 1 good, 2 randomish, and 1 bad. The most recent version of it is:
Pick 'best' stat, roll. 14+d4 (Av 16.5)
Pick 2nd stat, 12 +d6 (Av 15.5)
Pick 3rd stat roll 2d4 + 10 (Av 15)
Pick 4th and 5th, roll 3d6 (Av 10.5)
Pick 6th stat, roll 4+2d4 (Av 9, max 12)
This allows for people without totally min-maxed stats, and makes for better role playing if you have good players.