D&D 5E Favorite method of generating ability scores

[TheLoneRanger1979]

Statistically interested here. What is your favorite or preferred method of generating ability stats, both as DM's and as players, and why?

1. Completely arbitrary numbers assignment;
2. Standard array
3. Point buy
4. 3d6
5. 4d6, minus the smallest roll
6. 4d6 (or other rolling method), but ordered; i.e. you assign the rolls as they are generated, not to what would make the most GP efficient way (you first roll for STR, then for DEX...)
7. Other way

Edit, i am quite divided between 5 and 6, mostly because they provide interesting and always different PC's but in the end i voted 5.

 

[delericho]

Other. Each player gets a choice: 4d6-drop-lowest, or point buy, or standard array.

 

[KahlessNestor]

I have only ever played with point buy, though my Pathfinder game did 3d6+6 rolling, which was fun.

Although I've never played it, I picked the ordered rolling (strength, dexterity, etc.) I just like the idea of it.

 

[Redthistle]

Point buy, in order to promote balance between PCs in the group.

My experience with dice-rolling ability scores has been that, while a player might want to re-roll the attributes if the first results were very lousy, I've never known a player who wanted to re-roll results that are up in the stratosphere.

It's a gut-level thing for me that speaks to fairness.

 

[delericho]

My experience with dice-rolling ability scores has been that, while a player might want to re-roll the attributes if the first results were very lousy, I've never known a player who wanted to re-roll results that are up in the stratosphere.

That's pretty much human nature. I have found with random rolls that it's pretty important to set down the rules for a reroll up-front and then stick to them rigidly.

 

[Ovinomancer]

I prefer the fun of rolling, but generally default to point buy because it seems to make for a better game. My players far prefer point buy.

 

[Shendorion]

Rolling tends to make for a more entertaining Session Zero, but I think point buy gives everyone a sense of agency and fair play in the long term. To that end, I do rolled stats for one shots and point buy for campaigns.

 

[abirdcall]

I don't think 5e works with rolling (particularly anything that generates ability scores equal to or higher than 4d6 drop lowest).

I do like random stats though so my preferred method is to use playing cards 2-6. I leave in all 20 but the option is there to take out 2 of them to have the same sum for each character. I like doing it in order too, as I think choosing the order defeats the purpose of random scores.

 

[empireofchaos]

Point buy, for balance.

But, I insist that they roll hit points with every new level instead of taking the average.

 

[Skyscraper]

I answered 3d6, but it's in fact:

- Player rolls 2 arrays of 3d6 in order, and selects one.
- Player asssigns 14 to one stat.