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Message: <blockquote data-quote="scholz" data-source="post: 6628518" data-attributes="member: 10028">So.. jumping in late, read most of it. I am most interested in the "middle of the road" approaches:(4d4, or 2d6+6, roll for group array)I wanted to throw out something else. My personal attraction to rolling is the mystery and discovery. That said, rolling a meh character is no fun.So what about this option? Consolation Prizes/Privilege Payoffs ?With the normal point buy you can maximize to get +6 worth of ability bonuses. Not always optimal, but the most. Then you "equalize" their result using the maximum 6 ability bonus,  (the 28 point buy can grant you 14, 14, 14, 10, 10, 10)If the result would grant few than 6 bonuses they enhance their stats to equalize it.ORSpend those points in other interesting ways. 1 point equals proficiency in a skill, language, armor prof, weapon-type, or tool2 points equals a proficiency with a save, or knowing a cantrip (from any class), +5ft move, or a Luck Point4 points equals a +1 to their proficiency bonus. If the rolled stats would exceed the +6 bonus then they need to acquire points to balance it out. They could "buy down" abilities to reach the +6 bonuses.OrAcquire the disads to pay off the abilities.  1 point lose proficiency with some skill, armor type or weapon type, tool 2 points lose proficiency with a save, -5" move, 1 fewer cantrip (if appropriate), take on an Unluck Point (DM call for when it occurs), minor disability (missing an eye, obesity, prejudicing scars, tattoos or other features). 4 points  -1 Proficiency, serious physical disability like blindness, deafness, missing limb, etc.Players might come up with their own of similar benefit or disads. Things I like - Keeps the mystery, increases the diversity of characters, makes a certain amount of sense (naturally gifted people don't need to try as hard to do well, so might not develop the skills so well (Superman vs Batman)), rough equality  (probably not perfect, but closer), having lower stats might be appealing, effects are most noticeably at low levels when differences are more pronounced.Potential problems - Exceeding "lucky" (unlucky) rollers who get 18,18,16,16,14,12 are looking at a lot of compensating disadvantages to make up for the high rolls and might feel bad (sour grapes). Think of this like progressive tax system with a social safety net (Rawls might approve).Ex 1. Average Hardworking Joe Rolls 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 9 = +0 bonus (get 6 points)+1 Proficiency (4), Medium Armor (1), Stealth (1) Ex. 2 Genetic Lottery Winner Rolls 18 (4),18 (4),16 (3),16 (3),14 (2),12 (1) = +17 ability bonuses (need 11 points)-1 Proficiency Penalty (4), 2 points Unluck (4), Deserter Tattoo on Face (2),  -1 to Persuasion (1)Ex. 3 SerendipityRolls 9 (-1) 8 (-1), 8 (-1), 8 (-1), 8 (-1), 7 (-2) = -7 ability penalties (gets 13 points)6 points of luck (12), Insight Skill (1)I haven't worked out all the math, but smarter people than I could do that. Could something like this work to make randomness more appealing to the equality contingent? Ideally, I'd like something simpler, not sure how to do that.</blockquote>

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