D&D 5E Humans RAW Can Start With multiple 18's

[Grazzt]

Can we get rid of RAW from our vocabulary?

When you play in a campaign, you use the ability score generation method agreed on by the group. If the table uses the variant point buy then that is what you use.

Yes please. I've hated that term since I first saw/heard it. (Course, it personally hasn't meant anything at our table EVER because the DM is the final arbiter of all rules; that's what we...or the players since I DM 90%+ of the time...agreed on a long time ago.)

And as for ability score generation. We never use point buy. Even when it was "RAW" or default or whatever. Always roll. We currently use "roll 3d6, reroll any 1's" and place on whatever ability score you choose. We change it sometimes, depending on the mood of the players or the DM and use the above method, 4d6 drop lowest, or even straight 3d6 arrange as desired.

 

[eryndel]

Check the PHB not RAW. He can house rule it for sure but that is not RAW. The player gets to chose to roll or stat array. If the DM makes you use the stat array and doesn't allow the variant human he is gimping the human and should not be surprised if he ends up with parties with 0 humans.

I just want to point out, the D&D Adventurer's League Organized Play player's guide specifically states that the two methods of character creation are the standard array, or customized array variant. "You cannot roll your ability scores." (emphasis theirs). So, if you're really taking the position that any DM that doesn't allow rolling of ability scores is gimping humans, I thought it fair to point out that WotC is officially sanctioning the gimping of humans in their game.

Personally, I love me some rolled ability scores, probably because I've been playing for long enough that it's been the norm. However, there are plenty of good reasons for the standard array and point buy methods. Really, it should be a table decision, and the mean differences between the two methods are minor enough that I have not yet seen a significant effect in my games.

 

[Plaguescarred]

And the best part is RAW the DM can't chose to not let you roll.

Check the PHB not RAW. He can house rule it for sure but that is not RAW.

Right, a DM can houserule it and go with whatever method he wants to. See Adventurer's League to see what organizers can do for exemple;

Determine Ability Scores
You can generate your character’s ability scores using
one of the following methods:
• Standard set (15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8)
• Customizing ability scores variant (Player’s
Handbook chapter 1)
After assigning ability scores, apply your racial benefits
to derive your starting ability score at 1st level. You
cannot roll your ability scores.

 

[Zardnaar]

I just want to point out, the D&D Adventurer's League Organized Play player's guide specifically states that the two methods of character creation are the standard array, or customized array variant. "You cannot roll your ability scores." (emphasis theirs). So, if you're really taking the position that any DM that doesn't allow rolling of ability scores is gimping humans, I thought it fair to point out that WotC is officially sanctioning the gimping of humans in their game.

Personally, I love me some rolled ability scores, probably because I've been playing for long enough that it's been the norm. However, there are plenty of good reasons for the standard array and point buy methods. Really, it should be a table decision, and the mean differences between the two methods are minor enough that I have not yet seen a significant effect in my games.

Never played adventurers league or organised play in my life and do not intend to start. And this is why because you are forced to use rules and editions one does not like. Screw that.

 

[eryndel]

Never played adventurers league or organised play in my life and do not intend to start. And this is why because you are forced to use rules and editions one does not like. Screw that.

Nor am I trying to sell you on organized play. Only organized play game I've ever played was at the last Origins I went to. However, if you're going to cast aspersions on DMs with set rules on character creation (which my originally quoted comment did), you'll have to cast that net awfully wide, since the "official" games have that rule.

That said, roll the way you like in your home game. It's probably not too different than how I roll.

 

[Dausuul]

The only issue is mixing point-buy with rolled stats, or playing with a mix of any score-rolling strategies in fact. The danger of one character dramatically out-powering another is high.

Roll how you like, but all PC's must roll the same way.

Not necessarily. The point buy value of 4d6 drop lowest is only a shade over 27. Of course it risks some players having better stats than others, but that's inherent in rolled stats. If you're okay with that, allowing players to choose between point buy and rolling should work fine.

 

[Kobold Stew]

If you roll low change your mind and play a non human with the stat array or suicide your character at level 1.

This was the argument against rolling stats when we were in sixth grade, and it is startling to see it still present. You're not changing your mind, you've decided in advance to roll until you get something you like (five times for your jackpot), or giving yo a safety valve. In my book, this is cheating, plain and simple, with one player looking for an advantage out of the gate that isn't being given to the other players.

If you as a DM want to encourage his at your table, power to you. Why not just let all players have straight 18s? Or let one player roll until he or she is pleased, and let everyone have that result?

The fact that you'd kill your character deliberately is worse:

On the suicide thing if one of my players ever tried to get their character killed I would oblige them and then ask them to leave my game, I don't want or need that kind of attitude at my table.

Well said. This behaviour completely undermines the social contract of the gaming table. Again, possibly fine in elementary school, but it would be enough to make me not want you at my table again.

Not necessarily. The point buy value of 4d6 drop lowest is only a shade over 27. Of course it risks some players having better stats than others, but that's inherent in rolled stats. If you're okay with that, allowing players to choose between point buy and rolling should work fine.

My default practice (since 3.5) is to let players choose point-buy or to roll, once. Odds are by rolling that you'll end up with slightly better numbers, but it's less controlled; the two balance well against one another, I find.

 

[Gargoyle]

Can we get rid of RAW from our vocabulary?

When you play in a campaign, you use the ability score generation method agreed on by the group. If the table uses the variant point buy then that is what you use.

I agree with you and others, but the term isn't the problem. Using the term RAW in a D&D rules forum makes sense to clarify what you're talking about. The problem is when people don't modify the rules or interpret the rules to meet the needs of their table.

But merely talking about RAW sort of makes some sense here.

 

[GameDoc]

I agree with you and others, but the term isn't the problem. Using the term RAW in a D&D rules forum makes sense to clarify what you're talking about. The problem is when people don't modify the rules or interpret the rules to meet the needs of their table.

But merely talking about RAW sort of makes some sense here.

Well said!

 

[Charles Wright]

As a DM I don't like the idea of rolling stats at all. People only do it because they think I will have pity on them if they roll terribly.

Nope. That's not the only reason people like to roll their stats.