D&D 5E Different Methods for Rolling Ability Scores (8-15 range)

DND_Reborn

The High Aldwin
  • Start with a 12 as your number in each attribute.
  • For each attribute, Roll a d6 and 3d12.
  • Discard all 1s and 2s and 3s.
  • For 4 to 6, Subtract 1 from your number.
  • For 7 to 12, above, add 1 to your number.
The d6 has a 50% chance to be nothing, and a 50% chance to reduce (net reduction: 66%). For each d12, there is a 25% chance of nothing, a 25% chance of reduction, and 50% chance of increase.

Chance of a 15? ~6%
Chance of a 14? ~16%
Chance of a 13? ~23%
Chance of a 12? ~24% (12 or greater? ~69%)
Chance of an 11? ~17%
Chance of a 10? ~10%
Chance of a 9? ~3%
Chance of an 8? ~1%.
It is convoluted enough I love it, but fails in the "simple" part honestly.

It probably just isn't feasible...
 

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DND_Reborn

The High Aldwin
Here's another method:

Roll two d8.
If the rolls are within 2 of each other, use the lower roll. (e.g. 1 and 3, 5 and 6, 4 and 4, etc., use lower (bold) roll)
If the rolls are 3 or more apart, use the higher roll. (e.g. 2 and 7, 4 and 1, 3 and 6, etc., use higher (bold) roll)
Add 7.

Range 8 - 15,
Average 12.22
Non-linear
No table
Is it simple enough?
 

Blue

Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal
One method I was rather surprisingly taken with was a deck of cards. I forget the actual distribution, but you deal out the whole deck into six piles, one for each ability. It ends up with different ability scores, but still balanced between characters.
 

DND_Reborn

The High Aldwin
One method I was rather surprisingly taken with was a deck of cards. I forget the actual distribution, but you deal out the whole deck into six piles, one for each ability. It ends up with different ability scores, but still balanced between characters.
Hmm... I remember something about people using decks before. If you recall more let me know!
 




DND_Reborn

The High Aldwin
Wonder what the probability is in using a VTT to roll 1d15, reroll 1-7.
It would be linear, since results of 1-7 never count you can basically ignore them. That leaves only 8-15, each with the same probability since it is a single die roll, and thus linear. The probability would be 0.125 for each result.

It is really the same as d8 + 7 if I am understanding your concept correctly.
 




DND_Reborn

The High Aldwin
Does 8 + best of two d6 + Fate Die give 8-15 with a mean just under 12.5.? Really skewed though.
That is actually pretty decent.

Here is the AnyDice link: AnyDice

The 8 is pretty low, but on par with the 1% of rolling 2d10 and having a result of 2 = a score of 8.

Sadly, I think the hard part is the "simple" criteria I was looking for, but I'll keep this in mind. :)
 

Blue

Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal
Hmm... I remember something about people using decks before. If you recall more let me know!
I found a recent thread about it.


From @clearstream
Make a 20-card deck from which you will draw 3 cards for each score without replacement, leaving 2 cards in the deck. For example - 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2. This deck has interesting features -

  • The range for the sum of scores is 60 to 66
  • The range for an individual score is 6 to 15
  • A character can have no more than one 15, and no more than one 6
  • Scores will average to at least 10, and at most 11, i.e. 10.5
There are other decks and discussion there as well.

Also while searching for it, I found an older thread that mentions some other alternatives for ability score generation.

 



DND_Reborn

The High Aldwin
So, for anyone following this I think I might have something. You can tell me your opinion.

You roll d8 +7 for each ability score. Then you roll an extra d8, adding the result to your lowest ability score, to a maximum of 15.

  • Range is from 8-15, with the cap for adding the extra d8.
  • Average is 12.24, the same as 4d6, drop lowest.
  • The distribution is non-linear:
1641268218877.png

  • Obviously, you get to roll instead of using a chart.
  • Finally, it is pretty simple IMO (same as the easiest option, d8 + 7, with an extra die).
Getting an 8 is pretty low, less than 1 in 100, but considering how little I see an 8 with rolling or point-buy, I can live with that.

Thoughts?
 


Cadence

Legend
Supporter
That is actually pretty decent.

Here is the AnyDice link: AnyDice

The 8 is pretty low, but on par with the 1% of rolling 2d10 and having a result of 2 = a score of 8.

Sadly, I think the hard part is the "simple" criteria I was looking for, but I'll keep this in mind. :)

Highest 3 of 6d5 (make it 8 if it isn't) is pretty -- except for needing a bunch of d5s.

 


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