Die Rolls or Point-Buy

[Sanackranib]

character gen

My favorite method is:
roll 2d6+1d8, 7 times keep best 6, arrange how you want.

Then compare everyones highest roll, the highest of this group then replaces everyones highest roll.

Then compare everyones lowest roll, the highest of this group then replaces everyones lowest roll.

what do you replace the highest and lowest rolls with?

 

[Sanackranib]

character gen

I tend to run a more lethal campaign and the players need every edge that they can get. as you pointed out most people don't roll exceptionally and thus my way will usually allow the pc's to boot a couple of odd numbered stats so that they can get the extra +1

 

[WayneLigon]

When you say 'Point Buy', remember to mention how many points you use. 28, 30, or a higher number? Lower?

 

[WayneLigon]

I use a weird way that seems to work really well. ...Then, each player can choose one row, column, or continuous set of six scores from the matrix, in any orientation (top to bottom, bottom to top, left to right, right to left) and place them in order on his character sheet.

Now that's about the most unique thing I've seen in a long time. Very interesting way of doing things.

 

[Ysgarran]

I use 4d6 (drop the lowest) for the six stats. They can be arranged in any order. After that, if the point buy is lower than 32, I let the characters 'buy up' to 32 points.

I like this because it gives the players the chance to roll a truly outstanding character but the chances are fairly low of this happening. When the don't the point buy allows them to get the character they want to run.

Ysgarran.

 

[WayneLigon]

I use both. I let the players choose from the following methods when building their characters.

1) 32pt. buy. Base all skills at 6 and then spread 32 points around as you see fit.

2) 62 pt. by. Base all skills at 0 and then spread 62 points around as y ou see fit.

So.. you use a flat number of points for skills at start, then? Everyone starts the same? What do they get per level? A flat increase, or what the class says?

 

[Fenes 2]

In one campaign we just spend 75 points freely among all stats, 1:1.

In another it is basically make up your character as you wish, as long as it is balanced with the rest of the PCs.

 

[Desdichado]

I like to use the standard array, give them a certain number of "points" that can be used as a one-for-one stat increase, and have them build their characters that way. Usually, I use 3.

 

[bret]

Point buy. I find it the most fair way.

Historically, I've caused many GMs to institute policy changes after rolling my characters. Most eventually went with some sort of rule about minimum total bonus or minimum number of bonus attributes.

I don't like rolling up characters. It takes too long.

 

[howandwhy99]

I forget who originally posted this system, but this is a variation giving an average 28 pt buy scheme, but still allowing for variation.

1. Choose your primary 3 stats, put a +1 by each.
2. Roll 3d6 in order for the 6 stats.
3. Swap 1 pair of stats. (IE Str's roll for Wis's)
4. Add the +1's in your 3 primary stats.
5. Tabulate what your point buy amount would have been via these semifinal scores.
6. Determine how many points above or below a 28 pt buy this amount is.
7. Regardless of your final score, spend 4 more point buy points or, if you were below 28 by more than 4, use the difference (the greater number) to get up to a base 28 point buy.
8. Add any racial, etc. bonuses for your final scores.

Oh yeah, if any roll is less than 8 (0 via the point buy method), they still cost 1 point per point raised; meaning you can't raise your very low scores to 8 without spending any points.

I've found that this system very rarely gives more than a 28-32 point buy spread, with a good many scores ending as 28 point buys. The straight 3d6 insures that some scores are higher or lower than a standard race-class combo minmaxed point buy system would follow. However, with the +1's, score swap, and final point buy a player can raise the score's they feel as important. The whole party's final scores are relatively the same, the character's have a "naturalness" to them, like the old-school days, and a player who rolls well, gets to keep those rolls.

You may wish to lower scores if a player rolls exceptionally high. However, this almost never happens with an honest rolling of the straight 3d6.