D&D General How Did You Generate Your Most Recent Character's Stats?

[Charlaquin]

Yes, this is my understanding of most people who want to roll stats. They just want to roll, for no discernible reason, but they do not actually want randomness.

No random, only roll!

Not really my business. If that’s how they like to play, more power to them.

 

[Cadence]

Then why this charade? Just let the players to assign whatever scores they want. That is what you're effectively doing, so no point in wasting time and pretending that it is random.

My favorite VtM storyteller did that. You can give your human whatever stats you want...

... and whatever embraces you will balance it out (in terms of generation and support and the like).

 

[djotaku]

Fixed array. Lots of stuff I leave to luck, but character is not one.

 

[tetrasodium]

5 players plus 1 gm with a laptop running the tabletop vtt tvbox. The players had no idea what the method was. Everyone tolled one d6 in clockwise order. I plugged the results into Excel in nonlinear order and everyone used the same array

 

[cbwjm]

I've just started running Dolmenwood so it uses the old 3d6 down the line, trade 2 ability points to bump up a prime requisite by 1. I also added in a rule from worlds without number, before making adjustments, you can replace one score with a 13.

They have rules for when you can scrap your character and roll again, I can't quite recall them but I think it's something like all stats under 8 or 3 stats under 6 then reroll.

 

[overgeeked]

Depends on the specific game. But almost always rolled.

Generally 4d6, drop the lowest, and arrange to taste.

If the game warrants it, 3d6 down the line.

 

[TwoSix]

Then why this charade? Just let the players to assign whatever scores they want. That is what you're effectively doing, so no point in wasting time and pretending that it is random.

I'm happy to do that if the players want. I don't have anyone shameless enough to give themselves 14,15,16,17,18,18 or something like that. The majority of my players actually prefer having moderate rolls, or some low rolls to add character texture.

Most of my DMs who prefer rolling let us roll away from table, which is basically pick your own stats combined with illusionary pretense.

 

[humble minion]

4d6 drop lowest, if your lowest stat is higher than 8, it is reduced to 8. DMs discretion to grant you a full re-roll if the dice desert you and you roll a dumpster fire array.

 

[FrogReaver]

I remember reading a paper or something about games of chance, and how people square randomness with reward. The gist of it was that people don't necessarily want random results; they want good results that feel random. They are trying to capture the feeling that a higher power, the universe, the Fates, whatever, is smiling upon them personally.

That's why rolling up stats and getting an 18 feels so much better than point-buying an 18, or selecting an 18 from an array. It's still the same 18, but how you came to get that 18 matters. It can make a big difference for some folks.

Sometimes it’s also fun to be surprised and to not be able to cookie cutter a character. That’s the feeling I like with rolling. Though too bad of rolls pigeon holes things too much and I dislike that. I need one or 2 good stats but after that the rest can be whatever.

 

[prabe]

Most of my DMs who prefer rolling let us roll away from table, which is basically pick your own stats combined with illusionary pretense.

This is my experience, as well, which is why I just formalized "pick your own stats," within some (generous) constraints.