Just out of curiousity

[Kid Socrates]

Using a pretty strict rolling method (3d6, in order, you could switch one set but that's all) I had a first-level elven fighter with a 20 Dexterity (rolled the 18, then the racial +2), so I had my nice +5 bonus, there. Of course, his other stats? 10, 11, 11, 10, 11. I should've just named him Joe Dexterity.

 

[jmucchiello]

Heh, yep. In fact, you can have a 22, if you use the right books.

You mean the Monster Manual? Orcs can get to 22 strength without bending any rules.

Of course the better questions is "should" starting characters be allowed have ability score over 19. To that question I would say, not if that character is the only character with such an ability score. We have a fighting orc in our lowlevel game and he outshines the other fighter types with Strengths in the more reasonable 16 range. And now that he's a barbarian, raging makes him even more of a death machine. But with a quick refocus, the other fighter is now an archery specialist and it's all good. But if that player wasn't willing to refocus there could have been bad feelings about the orc overshadowing him.

 

[Bartmanhomer]

Plus, if level one refers to class level only, a 1st lvl PC with a big Level Adjustment can have astronomical stats.

Really?! Cool! How does that work?

 

[Storm Raven]

Really?! Cool! How does that work?

You play a race with a level adjustment. For example, suppose you were going to play a Fire Giant. Deconstructing the stats in the Monster Manual, I come up with the following ability score adjustments for Fire Giant characters: Str +20, Int -2, Con +10, Wis +4. Thus, if you roll a 14, and put it into Strength, your Fire Giant character would have a Strength of 34. Pretty nifty.

However, Fire Giants have a Level Adjustment of +4, and 15 racial Hit Dice, so your 1st level Fire Giant barbarian is equivalent to a 20th level character. Not so nifty.

 

[Bartmanhomer]

You play a race with a level adjustment. For example, suppose you were going to play a Fire Giant. Deconstructing the stats in the Monster Manual, I come up with the following ability score adjustments for Fire Giant characters: Str +20, Int -2, Con +10, Wis +4. Thus, if you roll a 14, and put it into Strength, your Fire Giant character would have a Strength of 34. Pretty nifty.

However, Fire Giants have a Level Adjustment of +4, and 15 racial Hit Dice, so your 1st level Fire Giant barbarian is equivalent to a 20th level character. Not so nifty.

Aye carumba, That is so hot!

 

[Edena_of_Neith]

A big yes to that, especially in 3rd edition.

Even back in 1st and 2nd edition, it was common. The 1st level elven fighter/mages with the 19 dexterity were infamous!

 

[werk]

I use a point-buy system for character generation, so anyone can easily have stats above 18 if you tank some other stats.