Character generation methods

[Coredump]

I have been looking, but I can't find my notes.

I had a list of some creative ways of generating character attributes.

Modified point buy
Point buy where you 'earn' your points
3d6
4d6 drop
12+d6

And some really cool ones that were mostly point buy, but had some randomness factored in.

So, who would like to post some of their favorite methods?
(I really wish I could find a decent hybrid, some point buy, some randomness)

[I tried to find some threads about this, but was unable to.]

 

[evolved]

organic point buy the player takes the points you give him buy an array of six scores then rolls to determine where the scores are placed then the player has the option of switching two scores twice

i've never gotten to test this but it looks like fun

another way would be to use point buy but then have the players switch score arrays and build their character's from that without the other guy telling what to do with it

it would be fun to see what two people would make of the same score array

 

[Al]

In response to evolved's posts, I tend to use organic point-buy, both for my PCs and NPCs. It leads to more interesting characters as a rule (since Charisma is not the default dump stat for fighters etc.) and, if enforced properly gives the player the opportunity (some would say obliges the player ) to try out a variety of different character archetypes that he might not ordinarily have wanted to play out of volition.

The organic I use is slightly different to the one described though- roll 4d6 drop lowest in order , one swap and one reroll.

 

[Li Shenron]

I haven't really used very original methods: either the standard one or the point-buy.

I am curious to see if some interesting idea comes up in this thread, I would like to know a method which (1) leaves something random to allow for unusual characters to spring up, (2) generates equal characters, (3) doesn't run the risk of an unplayable character. Usually there is no method which fits with all the 3...

For example, the standard 4d6-drop and switch freely doesn't generate equal characters, there's always someone who ends up being better than another.

Otherwise the point-buy methods are very fair but you tend to see only min-maxed characters.

evolved's first suggestion seems to be quite interesting, you are guaranteed to have the highest score in what you need for your class (although some classes need 2), everyone has the same total, but you end up with something unexpected.

Even better would be a method which takes a total amount of points and spreads them randomly among the 6, and the player gets to do some adjustment only to one stat (a switch, or a trade-off at the expense of another stat).

 

[Halivar]

6d6-drop-3, baby!

Just kidding. We run pretty high-powered games, so we typically do the 4d6-drop-1-repeat-until-the-DM-thinks-it-looks-good method.

 

[Li Shenron]

6d6-drop-3, baby!

Just kidding. We run pretty high-powered games, so we typically do the 4d6-drop-1-repeat-until-the-DM-thinks-it-looks-good method.

It would be interesting to hear sometimes about someone who run low-powered games...

 

[Grayhawk]

I am curious to see if some interesting idea comes up in this thread, I would like to know a method which (1) leaves something random to allow for unusual characters to spring up, (2) generates equal characters, (3) doesn't run the risk of an unplayable character. Usually there is no method which fits with all the 3...

Would this method adequately address all 3 points?

Use the Elite Array (15,14,13,12,10,8) - arrange as desired.

Roll 6d6. A '1' means +1 to Str, a '2' means +1 to Dex, etc. If a roll makes a score go beyond 18, re-roll.

I haven't had a chance to use this yet - my current campaign has characters build by me using the Elite Array without the add ons suggested above. If you feel the stats may get too high, fiddle around with the beginning array (14,13,12,11,10,9 may be better).

 

[Halivar]

It would be interesting to hear sometimes about someone who run low-powered games...

That would make an interesting General thread topic.

The PHB says any stats that have a sum of ability modifiers less than +3 ought to be rerolled. While less than stellar, it seems pretty balanced against the MM, which uses base-line 10's and 11's for all the stats.

If I were to run a low-powered game, I would much rather use a point-buy than a rolling method. It's too easy to get screwed rolling straight 3d6. Rolling three 1's may be statistically improbable, but seems to happen a lot around my apartment (even more depressing, it also often happens even with the d20). A 30-point standard-buy keeps the game from spinning out of the DM's control (it's amazing how much you lose with those 2 points), while still allowing the PC's to keep from having four dump stats. The one game I played in with 30-point buy was fun (even though my paladin died in the first round of the first fight).

 

[Li Shenron]

Would this method adequately address all 3 points?

Use the Elite Array (15,14,13,12,10,8) - arrange as desired.

Roll 6d6. A '1' means +1 to Str, a '2' means +1 to Dex, etc. If a roll makes a score go beyond 18, re-roll.

I haven't had a chance to use this yet - my current campaign has characters build by me using the Elite Array without the add ons suggested above. If you feel the stats may get too high, fiddle around with the beginning array (14,13,12,11,10,9 may be better).

That could do The total points are the same for every character, each PC is guaranteed to have a mid-high minimum on the most important scores for the class, and no one knows where you're going to get those 6 extra points.

I think the key for such a method is to first let the player choose something which sets a minimum (so if you want to play a Wiz, you are sure you won't get a low Int), and second run the random part. Otherwise, a method which first has the random part and second the player's adjustment, is usually going to end up again with dump stats.

Only problem with those numbers above is that it's possible to start with more than 18 in a single score, but that's not very likely.

 

[Li Shenron]

That would make an interesting General thread topic.

Good tip