D&D 5E Favorite method of generating ability scores

[BoldItalic]

I prefer point buy because it avoids extremely high and extremely low stats. Not for play balance reasons, but because I think stats should support the narrative choices for the character, rather than controlling them. If a character has unusually high or unusually low stats, as can happen with random methods, one feels obliged to skew the character to take account of them and I find that uncomfortable. Unless it's the kind of game where all the players are intentionally creating whacky characters of course, then it's okay.

 

[jgsugden]

Roll 4d6 and discard the lowest. Repeat for a total of 6 times and record in order. Treat a (15 or 16) as a 15 and a (17 or 18) as a 16.

You can elect to reorder the rolls or keep them in order. If you keep them in order, you get a boon (some minor ability or role playing benefit (such as a wealthy patron)).

If you do not like the numbers, you can use point buy.

I also have 1000 randomly generated attribute arrays that are acceptable from a balance perspective. You can just roll 1d1000 and look up stats on the chart.

 

[Blue]

5e math seems to be based around standard array / point buy. I'm seen too many tales of woe about uber powerful characters with rolled stats. And frankly, how different classes handle higher stats varies a lot. There's a thread active right now about a too-powerful PC, but it happens to be a barbarian with very high rolled Str, Dex and Con who got ungodly AC for their level with unarmored defense and a shield. (And they took a feat, didn't even raise it.) Some other classes likely wouldn't be that powerful with high stats.

So while I like the organic method of 4d6 drop lowest, in 5e the math dictates to me that I do point buy.

 

[Blue]

Free form arbitrary generation is the closest to my reality.

As a DM my only concern with a character's ability scores is that the player of said character needs to be satisfied with them, so I have my players figure out what their characters' scores are however they want to - rolling, point buy, picking them deliberately, doesn't matter so long as they don't find their ability scores to be hindering their enjoyment of their character.

My players typical choose as follows: One rolls her own set of 4d6, discard lowest, and assigns them down the character sheet in order to help her decide what to play; One rolls his own set of 4d6, discard lowest, and assigns them as he likes; the others all take the first player's rolled scores and assign them where they like.

As a player, I tend to gravitate towards methods like 3d6 twice for each ability, rolled in order down the sheet and choosing the score I prefer (and yes, sometimes it is the lower one), or every score starting with a base of 8 and then rolling 7d6, adding each die as a whole value to those base scores as desired.

I think I could try this with the group that I DM for because they are interested in a good story. On the other hand, for a group I play with I think seeral people would end up having uber scores and while they may be satisfied, I would be unhappy being overshadowed all the time.

 

[MechaPilot]

I allow the following method:

Roll 24 d6s.
Eliminate the lowest 6 rolls.
Combine the remaining rolls into groups of three.
Assign the 6 scores you are left with in whatever order you desire.


I also allow the player to choose between the result of the above method and the standard array. Usually, the above method gives higher scores. But, fairly recently, I have had a player roll badly enough that the standard array was actually better.

 

[AaronOfBarbaria]

I think I could try this with the group that I DM for because they are interested in a good story. On the other hand, for a group I play with I think seeral people would end up having uber scores and while they may be satisfied, I would be unhappy being overshadowed all the time.

Yeah, I don't recommend my method for any group that aren't all fully on the same page about what they want from the game experience.

I think the best test if my method will work for your group is to bring up the topic of picking whatever scores are desired, mention explicitly "Even straight 20s if that's what you want to do," and check reactions. My group reacted in all roughly the same manner of being glad they didn't have to deal with scores they didn't want, and entirely disinterested in trying to out-do each others scores or go for all scores maxed out.

 

[Horwath]

Point buy all the way.

doesnt mather what power level 20pts, 27pts, 32pts or 40pts.

It matters that all players are equal.

I hate to see that some characters are borderline unplayable and some are so ubermensch that the nazis would shed a tear at mere sight.

 

[hbarsquared]

"All of the Above.". I've used all, played all, and each has it's own... personality. Depends on the group, tje campaign, the play style, and what I hope to enjoy in a group - but all have their place.

 

[hbarsquared]

People play D&D for all sorts of reasons, many/all valid.

Do you treat it like Poker, and the challenge is succeeding despite/because of what you're dealt? 3d6.

Is it a resource-limited, tactically minded turn-based video game? Point buy.

Is it an MMORPG or Living/Con game? Standard Array.

All have their place - depends on the game you want to play.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

3d6, replace lowest die with 4 (even if it is a 5 or 6).
A little better on average than 4d6 drop lowest, but without 17 and 18 or stats below 6.