howandwhy99
Adventurer
3d6 are rolled in order to represent odds. 1:216 Ability Scores may be an 18, but by removing player choice from what Ability score they represent we make characters with specifically an 18 strength or 18 intelligence even rarer. The rolls serve 2 purposes as do almost all D&D rules (if not many more). First, they are an expression of a distributive pattern that is actually part of the game. And second, they ensure fair odds for all players before beginning the game and dice are rolled.
Gaming the game system (game play basically) doesn't occur during character creation. It is creation or generation for this reason. We don't have a choice for who we begin as. Our choices are made during the game.
Player decisions during character creation include:
1. Class options - the focus of the game for the player & XP rewards for the character
2. Race options - a variation of the standard set of abilities everyone begins with
3. Alignment options - like the other options this is where you begin in the game
4. Name - this is usually always custom to the player, but some games may supply starting options too
5....and equipment - but technically buying equipment is an in game action. Starting prices are related to trade prices in the starting area.
There are plenty of other decisions which can be made too about the nature of the setting, what types of adventures people like, even specifics like having a setting which includes a preponderance of phasers or ice weasels or political backstabbing or anything else.
Gaming the game system (game play basically) doesn't occur during character creation. It is creation or generation for this reason. We don't have a choice for who we begin as. Our choices are made during the game.
Player decisions during character creation include:
1. Class options - the focus of the game for the player & XP rewards for the character
2. Race options - a variation of the standard set of abilities everyone begins with
3. Alignment options - like the other options this is where you begin in the game
4. Name - this is usually always custom to the player, but some games may supply starting options too
5....and equipment - but technically buying equipment is an in game action. Starting prices are related to trade prices in the starting area.
There are plenty of other decisions which can be made too about the nature of the setting, what types of adventures people like, even specifics like having a setting which includes a preponderance of phasers or ice weasels or political backstabbing or anything else.