D&D General Having your players roll their stats

[Micah Sweet]

I haven't had my players roll for stats since the 3e days. I strongly dislike the inherent unfairness of that method. I only ever use point buy or the standard array.

One could argue that the method itself is completely fair.

 

[pukunui]

One could argue that the method itself is completely fair.

Perhaps, but it produces unfair results. It’s too easy to wind up with a mix of over and underpowered PCs when you roll for stats.

Whether I am playing or DMing, I prefer to have all PCs be on a level playing field.

 

[Micah Sweet]

In my last two games we had our 9-year-old daughter roll one set, and everybody used it and rearranged as desired. When I play, I usually roll 4d6 drop down the line and assign class based on how it goes.

For my next game I'm going to try a new method I recently learned about:

1. Pick a stat. Roll 5d6 and drop the two lowest.

2. Pick two stats. Roll 4d6 and drop the lowest for each

3. Roll 3d6 for the remaining three stats.

I made five test characters using this method and was pretty happy with the result. Of course, this is for an OSR game, and stats are usually less critical in games based on an older ruleset.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Perhaps, but it produces unfair results. It’s too easy to wind up with a mix of over and underpowered PCs when you roll for stats.

Whether I am playing or DMing, I prefer to have all PCs be on a level playing field.

They are fair results, they're just not equitable. Everyone had the same opportunity for high or low rolls.

 

[pukunui]

They are fair results, they're just not equitable. Everyone had the same opportunity for high or low rolls.

Only if they all use the same set of dice.

But sure, let’s go with “inequitable” instead of “unfair”. I’m fine with that.

 

[Lanefan]

Perhaps, but it produces unfair results. It’s too easy to wind up with a mix of over and underpowered PCs when you roll for stats.

Yes, and after a while and some character deaths/turnover you've got a different mix of over- and under-powered characters.

Whether I am playing or DMing, I prefer to have all PCs be on a level playing field.

Life ain't a level playing field.

 

[pukunui]

Yes, and after a while and some character deaths/turnover you've got a different mix of over- and under-powered characters.

Not necessarily. Certainly not with 5e, where PCs are expected to survive for the long haul.

Life ain't a level playing field.

Exactly, which is why we play fantasy games where we can have things like level playing fields!

 

[James Gasik]

I still want to use a draft at some point, but in the game I'm currently in as a player, our solution was simple. Everyone rolled 6 stats. These became the arrays available for creation. That way everyone had the same numbers to use for their characters. It worked out really well, and no feel bads.

Now if only the character classes were balanced against one another, lol.

 

[Orius]

It's choice of 4d6 or standard array. And you keep what you roll unless the total is too low (whatever was in the 3e DMG which I don't feel like pulling out and checking right now).

 

[Micah Sweet]

Not necessarily. Certainly not with 5e, where PCs are expected to survive for the long haul.

That's not an assumption I make, either as player or DM, with  any version of D&D, from any publisher.