AD&D 1E What is the best way to generate ability scores for 1e AD&D?

Eyes of Nine · Apr 4, 2026

James Gasik said:
I remember a chance encounter with a group of ancient powergamers back in the day where all of their characters were dual-classed humans who started as Monks and then became Magic-Users, which they believed "fixed" the weaknesses of being a Magic-User.

Don't ask me how that worked in practice, my brain broke at the very idea.

I think I'm going to do this in 5e, everyone starts with a 7th level character who has at least 3Monk and 3MU levels, everyone has different subclasses. And for fun they all have to be gnomes, goblins, or halflings. And the only way they can get XP is if they give in to their flaw.

lall · Apr 4, 2026

I’ll be playing AD&D 1e this summer for the first time. We were given a choice and I chose Method V as our DM allowed it for demi-humans. The DM was in town recently and I rolled in front of him. My COM result was only 14 (16 versus non-high/grey elves) so he gave me the option to keep all my stats or roll them all again. I rolled again and got a 17 (19 versus non-high/grey elves) COM. So very happy with Method V when I can do it for my high elf. A 14 COM would have been fine too. I’ve only played later editions and never knew D&D considers high and grey elves to be the hottest race and thieves to be the hottest class. Now, I’ll only play a high elf thief regardless of edition. My friend likes pallies, so he used Method V too to ensure he could play one.

David Howery · Apr 4, 2026

make a sacrifice to the Dark Ones and then roll 3D6 in order.
No wait, it was 'roll 3d6 6 times and arrange as wanted'. Yeah, that was it.

Lanefan · Apr 4, 2026

lall said:
I’ll be playing AD&D 1e this summer for the first time. We were given a choice and I chose Method V as our DM allowed it for demi-humans. The DM was in town recently and I rolled in front of him. My COM result was only 14 (16 versus non-high/grey elves) so he gave me the option to keep all my stats or roll them all again. I rolled again and got a 17 (19 versus non-high/grey elves) COM. So very happy with Method V when I can do it for my high elf. A 14 COM would have been fine too. I’ve only played later editions and never knew D&D considers high and grey elves to be the hottest race and thieves to be the hottest class. Now, I’ll only play a high elf thief regardless of edition. My friend likes pallies, so he used Method V too to ensure he could play one.

When it sails, yours might be the only campaign in existence that actually has Comeliness as a stat.