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[5E] Alternative Character Gen - Looking for feedback
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<blockquote data-quote="Blue" data-source="post: 7644694" data-attributes="member: 20564"><p>I would play in such a game, but I'd always pick Choose your Destiny. And I'd prefer a normal game over it. </p><p></p><p>First is personal preference - I've found that for campaigns I greatly enjoy crafting my character's backstory vs. pre-gens where I'm working with an already established framework. This is doing the same - already providing the framework of background and race. Again, this is personal preference, some will thrive on working within constraints to craft their background.</p><p></p><p>I'm assuming you still get to arrange your ability scores (if not that's a whole different story), but basically different classes want 1-2 high, others are more MAD, all like having a +3 modifier to start, etc. </p><p></p><p>With a random race to lock in (for most races, or are things like half-elf "+1 to to any two" also random in which case for all races), it will direct how you arrange your scores and still be able to carry your weight. I'm not talking "be optimal", just "hold your own", If the random scores have a 14 max and your race is Rock Gnome that gives +2 INT, +1 CON, your not likely to play, for instance, a paladin. (Even with the +1 CON). The +DEX races are a little bit better, since DEX is useful to so many different builds.</p><p></p><p>With a random class, this can be quite weaker than the average character. Need MAD, have one really good. Need one really good, have MAD. Race ability mods doesn't match class.</p><p></p><p>On the other hand, randomness can match up well, and then you have a character that would be as well built as someone choosing option #1, but also has the compensation on top of that.</p><p></p><p>It's really an exercise in randomness, and some can get screwed and some can align AND get the compensation so be better than normal.</p><p></p><p>We also get a situation where you might have several players filling the same niche and other niches not filled at all. Which can be interesting to play and I have nothing against. Just mentioning it as a possibility. (Actually, I amend what I said in the first line - I'd take Choose your Destiny, and wait until others roll up so then I would help provide something the party needed.)</p><p></p><p>Now, you may not choose your parents, but there are a lot of people who don't choose to be adventurers. The ones that do, do so for a reason. Way back in AD&D 2nd I had a DM who implemented a similar thought in a different way. You rolled up three sets of ability scores IN ORDER. But then you got to pick which one took the step to be an adventurer and discarded two of them. We got some really organic characters that way, not built as you'd expect but very interesting.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Blue, post: 7644694, member: 20564"] I would play in such a game, but I'd always pick Choose your Destiny. And I'd prefer a normal game over it. First is personal preference - I've found that for campaigns I greatly enjoy crafting my character's backstory vs. pre-gens where I'm working with an already established framework. This is doing the same - already providing the framework of background and race. Again, this is personal preference, some will thrive on working within constraints to craft their background. I'm assuming you still get to arrange your ability scores (if not that's a whole different story), but basically different classes want 1-2 high, others are more MAD, all like having a +3 modifier to start, etc. With a random race to lock in (for most races, or are things like half-elf "+1 to to any two" also random in which case for all races), it will direct how you arrange your scores and still be able to carry your weight. I'm not talking "be optimal", just "hold your own", If the random scores have a 14 max and your race is Rock Gnome that gives +2 INT, +1 CON, your not likely to play, for instance, a paladin. (Even with the +1 CON). The +DEX races are a little bit better, since DEX is useful to so many different builds. With a random class, this can be quite weaker than the average character. Need MAD, have one really good. Need one really good, have MAD. Race ability mods doesn't match class. On the other hand, randomness can match up well, and then you have a character that would be as well built as someone choosing option #1, but also has the compensation on top of that. It's really an exercise in randomness, and some can get screwed and some can align AND get the compensation so be better than normal. We also get a situation where you might have several players filling the same niche and other niches not filled at all. Which can be interesting to play and I have nothing against. Just mentioning it as a possibility. (Actually, I amend what I said in the first line - I'd take Choose your Destiny, and wait until others roll up so then I would help provide something the party needed.) Now, you may not choose your parents, but there are a lot of people who don't choose to be adventurers. The ones that do, do so for a reason. Way back in AD&D 2nd I had a DM who implemented a similar thought in a different way. You rolled up three sets of ability scores IN ORDER. But then you got to pick which one took the step to be an adventurer and discarded two of them. We got some really organic characters that way, not built as you'd expect but very interesting. [/QUOTE]
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