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

[DND_Reborn]

3d4+3 gives 6-15 (with a median of 10.5).

Absolutely correct.

But since I am trying to get a range of 8-15 with an average of 12 or so, how does that help exactly?

 

[Cadence]

No, but I could easily substitute a d6 for them.

Did you have any ideas?

Does 8 + best of two d6 + Fate Die give 8-15 with a mean just under 12.5.? Really skewed though.

 

[DND_Reborn]

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]

Hmm... I remember something about people using decks before. If you recall more let me know!

I found a recent thread about it.

D&D General - Deck-based Ability Score Generation

Coming out of a few threads on generating ability scores, and in particular conversation with @EzekielRaiden I came up with an interesting tweak to the deck-based score generation that I'd like to share. @EzekielRaiden made an argument for surprise - i.e. for not knowing what your total scores...

www.enworld.org

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.

D&D 5E - Compilation of Alternate Ability Score Generation Methods

I kept track of innovative methods people were using for stats in the thread, “Point Buy vs Rolling for Stats “. I gave up on the thread on page 27 of 192. I made-up some names for the methods, in bold, for formatting and quick references. Add a comment if you have another way to generate...

www.enworld.org

 

[DND_Reborn]

I found a recent thread about it.

Awesome! Thanks for doing the leg work. I'll check it out tomorrow.

 

[Jacob Lewis]

7d2 + 1.

You can flip seven coins.

 

[DND_Reborn]

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:

• 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?

 

[DND_Reborn]

7d2 + 1.

You can flip seven coins.

The average is still only 11.5, so not the 12-12.5 I was looking for, but I recall once I used a similar idea for commoners:

15d2 - 12 to generate 3 - 18.

 

[Cadence]

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.

AnyDice

AnyDice is an advanced dice probability calculator, available online. It is created with roleplaying games in mind.

anydice.com

 

[Cadence]

Similarly, highest 4 of 6d4 truncate between 8 and 15... but d4s are kind of annoying.

AnyDice

AnyDice is an advanced dice probability calculator, available online. It is created with roleplaying games in mind.

anydice.com