Ability Score Arrays

[Jhaelen]

Or, you could use randomized stats as a way of showing how people can rise over challenges...

Come to my house to play D&D and I'll hand you 5d6 (drop 2 lowest)... But you can only roll after you've decided class and race based on the rest of the party and the setting information. ANd we take those puppies IN ORDER. Amazing how having a 11Str, 17 Int, 13 Dex, 8 Con, 12 Wis, 11 Cha will make you a very strategic Warrior rather than a walking meat wall...

Well, if it works for you and your players.

I don't see any purpose in rewarding someone who got lucky ONCE by rolling high for an ability that was actually important for his character. I'd rather play Bingo.
Being stuck with a character that sucks at what should be his specialty wouldn't encourage me AT ALL to try to keep that character alive. I'd look for opportunities to get rid of him as fast as I could.

If your players enjoy playing characters that 'rise over challenges' why not use the same WEAK ability array for everyone?

I also fail to see the purpose behind this:
Is this supposed to be realistic in some way? Well, it isn't. You don't become a warrior if you're totally ineffective as a warrior. You either pick a different profession or you die young.

Imho, using an ability array models reality far better:
You've managed to become a local hero because your abilities are heroic. If your abilities were weak you wouldn't have become that level 1 Fighter, you'd be a Commoner.

 

[ekb]

Well, if it works for you and your players.

I don't see any purpose in rewarding someone who got lucky ONCE by rolling high for an ability that was actually important for his character. I'd rather play Bingo.
Being stuck with a character that sucks at what should be his specialty wouldn't encourage me AT ALL to try to keep that character alive. I'd look for opportunities to get rid of him as fast as I could.

If your players enjoy playing characters that 'rise over challenges' why not use the same WEAK ability array for everyone?

I also fail to see the purpose behind this:
Is this supposed to be realistic in some way? Well, it isn't. You don't become a warrior if you're totally ineffective as a warrior. You either pick a different profession or you die young.

Imho, using an ability array models reality far better:
You've managed to become a local hero because your abilities are heroic. If your abilities were weak you wouldn't have become that level 1 Fighter, you'd be a Commoner.

Well, at 1st level, they're not really heroic - yet. They're kids who WANT to be these things and so they try to do them without really knowing what they need... No, it's not realistic in the least. It's not supposed to be. However, that mulligan rarely comes into play when we are running 5d6 - low 2d6... but it does help enlighten the character quickly about their poor choices AND help the game not be the usual slash & grab... That's where the fun is.