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<blockquote data-quote="delericho" data-source="post: 5832015" data-attributes="member: 22424">I've used a lot of stat generation methods over the years, and found every single one of them somewhat dissatisfying for some reason or other. Random rolls do seem to generate power disparities, point buy does seem to generate &quot;cookie cutter&quot; characters (and is more complex).The organic method described up-thread is quite fun, but still generates power disparities, and runs the risk of creating a character that just sucks.These days, my inclination is simply to offer three methods side-by-side, and let each player make a choice:1) Fixed array: 16/15/13/12/10/8, arrange to taste.2) Random roll: 4d6 drop lowest, arrange to taste. Reroll if the highest stat is 13 or lower, or if the total modifier is 0 or less. (This method can only be used if rolling in front of the group.)3) 28-point buy, using the standard costs from the 3.5e DMG.On average, #2 is roughly equivalent to a 30.5-point buy, but doesn't allow for the fine-tuning of point buy. #1 is a 29-point array, but again isn't fully optimised. #3, which does allow for full optimisation, then, is very slightly weaker in terms of raw power.This should avoid 'cookie cutter' characters, as players each choose different methods. Unfortunately, including #2 does lead to the possibility of power disparities in the group. Of course, you could always drom #2, and only allow the fixed array or the &quot;weaker&quot; point buy?</blockquote>

[QUOTE="delericho, post: 5832015, member: 22424"] I've used a lot of stat generation methods over the years, and found every single one of them somewhat dissatisfying for some reason or other. Random rolls do seem to generate power disparities, point buy does seem to generate "cookie cutter" characters (and is more complex). The organic method described up-thread is quite fun, but still generates power disparities, and runs the risk of creating a character that just sucks. These days, my inclination is simply to offer three methods side-by-side, and let each player make a choice: 1) Fixed array: 16/15/13/12/10/8, arrange to taste. 2) Random roll: 4d6 drop lowest, arrange to taste. Reroll if the highest stat is 13 or lower, or if the total modifier is 0 or less. (This method can only be used if rolling in front of the group.) 3) 28-point buy, using the standard costs from the 3.5e DMG. On average, #2 is roughly equivalent to a 30.5-point buy, but doesn't allow for the fine-tuning of point buy. #1 is a 29-point array, but again isn't fully optimised. #3, which does allow for full optimisation, then, is very slightly weaker in terms of raw power. This should avoid 'cookie cutter' characters, as players each choose different methods. Unfortunately, including #2 does lead to the possibility of power disparities in the group. Of course, you could always drom #2, and only allow the fixed array or the "weaker" point buy? [/QUOTE]

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