D&D 5E Minimum ability scores for a PC

[aramis erak]

One decent stat is usually enough to make an interesting character.

I actually just signed up this moment because reading through discussions of array vs. rolling and nobody has mentioned my favorite method.

Array feels to sterile to me, and too predictable. I like a bit of randomness, to encourage people to expand their comfort zones.

A bloke going by Redrick came up with a method for point-buy-valid randomized stats...

D&D 5E - Array v 4d6: Punishment? Or overlooked data

*or as I call it, the "Jimmy got a bigger piece of cake than me, not fair!" why shouldn't an adult in a group of adults point out an unfairness like an adult? If I sat down with 5 friends and we ordered 2 pizza's, one cheese and one cheese and pepperoni, and each one was cut into 12 pieces...

www.enworld.org

I implemented it as a self-contained javascript, CSS, & HTML page.

Redrick Roller

 

[Bill Zebub]

Everyone likes their chance to shine in the game. With bounded accuracy, the bonus from skills is relatively low. If the Fighter has higher Cha than the party face has Cha + proficiency bonus, that will lead to disappointment.

These sorts of statements, about players comparing their characters to other characters, are not universal truths.

 

[Krachek]

For NPC in the MM, those who have a CR of 1/2 or more can qualify as adventurers.
The Scout and the Thug make decent low scale adventurers, while the guard, the cultist won’t be recruited!

 

[CreamCloud0]

Hmmm... preferably at least a 50/50 split between having positive and neutral-negative modifiers, at minimum one of the positive modifiers should be a +2

Edit: although the greater the negatives the higher I’ll desire the highs to compensate, but overall I prefer more well rounded characters than min-maxed 20/20/20/8/8/8 types

 

[DND_Reborn]

A bloke going by Redrick came up with a method for point-buy-valid randomized stats...

D&D 5E - Array v 4d6: Punishment? Or overlooked data

*or as I call it, the "Jimmy got a bigger piece of cake than me, not fair!" why shouldn't an adult in a group of adults point out an unfairness like an adult? If I sat down with 5 friends and we ordered 2 pizza's, one cheese and one cheese and pepperoni, and each one was cut into 12 pieces...

www.enworld.org

I implemented it as a self-contained javascript, CSS, & HTML page.

Redrick Roller

Nice threadnecro! Over 7 years dead...

 

[GMforPowergamers]

so I had an odd suggestion from Tic Tok, and I may try it next time we want to roll... roll 1d8 then 1d10 then 1d12

each die generates 2 scores.

1d8 take the same number and add 10 then take the same number and subtract from15
so if you roll a 4 you get a 14 and an 11
1d10 like above take the roll and add 8 then take the rolled number and subtract from 17
so if you roll a 7 you get a 15 and a 10
1d12 like above take the roll and 6 then take the roll and subtract from 19
if you roll a 2 you get a 8 and 17

so you roll a 4, a 7 and 2 and get 17 15 14 11 10 8

since each number set adds to 25 you always end up with 75 spread

 

[fluffybunbunkittens]

For random but somewhat equal, I would just start with all stats at 8, then roll d6 for which stat increases by 2, do that 11 times. And then an extra roll to increase something by 1.

Increasing stat by 2 is because increasing by just 1 (but with double the dice) would mean more bell-curve which would mean more chance of everything ending up as 12. And also to avoid people getting a varying amount of odd values. Then, the extra roll is to get AN odd value in.

(and then hope everyone avoids rolling 12 12 12 12 12 11)

 

[DND_Reborn]

so I had an odd suggestion from Tic Tok, and I may try it next time we want to roll... roll 1d8 then 1d10 then 1d12

each die generates 2 scores.

1d8 take the same number and add 10 then take the same number and subtract from15
so if you roll a 4 you get a 14 and an 11
1d10 like above take the roll and add 8 then take the rolled number and subtract from 17
so if you roll a 7 you get a 15 and a 10
1d12 like above take the roll and 6 then take the roll and subtract from 19
if you roll a 2 you get a 8 and 17

so you roll a 4, a 7 and 2 and get 17 15 14 11 10 8

since each number set adds to 25 you always end up with 75 spread

It is an interesting system to a bit to wide in range for me (7-18).

I would prefer the same concept but with smaller range:

1d4: add 10, subtract from 15
1d6: add 9, subtract from 16
1d8: add 8, subtract from 17

This gives the same 75 points (avg. 12.5) but with a range of 9-16, so a bit tighter.

EDIT: I just realized (as an aside) you can roll the same die for each set instead of varying it. So, I could use three d6's and get the same results.

 

[Bill Zebub]

You kids have it so easy. Back when I started gaming we rolled 2d6 and took whatever we got. Sometimes our characters died while we were still making them.

Of course, we were playing Traveler, so there's that.

 

[DND_Reborn]

You kids have it so easy. Back when I started gaming we rolled 2d6 and took whatever we got. Sometimes our characters died while we were still making them.

Of course, we were playing Traveler, so there's that.

Ha! YOU had it easy.

When I first started playing, we didn't even have dice, we had to guess the numbers the DM had hidden behind his back.