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<blockquote data-quote="Philotomy Jurament" data-source="post: 4998242" data-attributes="member: 20854"><p>One thing to consider is that the bonus structure in Classic D&D (and LL) is different from AD&D. Keep that in mind when considering the AD&D "methods." For example, in AD&D, you need a 16 Str before you get a +1 to damage, and a 17 before you get +1 to hit <em>and</em> +1 damage. But with Classic D&D, you need a 13 Str to get +1 to hit and +1 damage, 16 Str would get you +2 to hit/damage, and an 18 would give you +3. In general, you don't <em>need</em> very high stats in Classic D&D, compared to AD&D.</p><p></p><p>The other thing to consider is your approach in creating PCs. One approach is "see what the fates give you; the challenge and the fun is to make an interesting and successful PC from there." In other words, you look at the randomness as part of the fun and part of the challenge. Here's what the dice have given you: can you create an interesting PC it? Can you handle it? The other approach is "envision the PC you want and build that PC." The fun, there, has nothing to do with fate: it's found in creating the PC "in your head" and then translating that vision into the game's terms.</p><p></p><p>Either approach can be viable. For the "see what fate gives me and rise to the challenge" approach, it's hard to beat 3d6 in order. You just have to accept, up-front, that making something cool of the hand you're dealt is part of the fun and part of the game. (Actually, with this approach, the toughest challenge isn't a PC with low scores, but rather a PC with nothing but average scores.) That goes for the party as a whole, too. Instead of building a Fighter, a MU, a Cleric, and a Thief, all with tailored stats, you might end up with stat arrays that might suggest three Fighters and a Thief. But Classic D&D doesn't have the stat requirement rules of AD&D, so maybe you'd end up with a party where the MU has Int 12 and Str 15 -- but that's part of the fun. </p><p></p><p>With "envision your PC and build him" it's hard to beat some kind of point-buy. Randomness just gets in the way of building the PC you want, in this case. </p><p></p><p>In other words, my advice is to either embrace the randomness and go with 3d6 in order, or to reject the randomness and go with point-buy. Pick your approach and run with it.</p><p></p><p>FWIW, in a traditional D&D campaign, I prefer the "random challenge" approach. But for other games or specifically focused/themed D&D campaigns, point buy might be more appropriate. YMMV, of course.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Philotomy Jurament, post: 4998242, member: 20854"] One thing to consider is that the bonus structure in Classic D&D (and LL) is different from AD&D. Keep that in mind when considering the AD&D "methods." For example, in AD&D, you need a 16 Str before you get a +1 to damage, and a 17 before you get +1 to hit [i]and[/i] +1 damage. But with Classic D&D, you need a 13 Str to get +1 to hit and +1 damage, 16 Str would get you +2 to hit/damage, and an 18 would give you +3. In general, you don't [i]need[/i] very high stats in Classic D&D, compared to AD&D. The other thing to consider is your approach in creating PCs. One approach is "see what the fates give you; the challenge and the fun is to make an interesting and successful PC from there." In other words, you look at the randomness as part of the fun and part of the challenge. Here's what the dice have given you: can you create an interesting PC it? Can you handle it? The other approach is "envision the PC you want and build that PC." The fun, there, has nothing to do with fate: it's found in creating the PC "in your head" and then translating that vision into the game's terms. Either approach can be viable. For the "see what fate gives me and rise to the challenge" approach, it's hard to beat 3d6 in order. You just have to accept, up-front, that making something cool of the hand you're dealt is part of the fun and part of the game. (Actually, with this approach, the toughest challenge isn't a PC with low scores, but rather a PC with nothing but average scores.) That goes for the party as a whole, too. Instead of building a Fighter, a MU, a Cleric, and a Thief, all with tailored stats, you might end up with stat arrays that might suggest three Fighters and a Thief. But Classic D&D doesn't have the stat requirement rules of AD&D, so maybe you'd end up with a party where the MU has Int 12 and Str 15 -- but that's part of the fun. With "envision your PC and build him" it's hard to beat some kind of point-buy. Randomness just gets in the way of building the PC you want, in this case. In other words, my advice is to either embrace the randomness and go with 3d6 in order, or to reject the randomness and go with point-buy. Pick your approach and run with it. FWIW, in a traditional D&D campaign, I prefer the "random challenge" approach. But for other games or specifically focused/themed D&D campaigns, point buy might be more appropriate. YMMV, of course. [/QUOTE]
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