D&D 5E Minimum ability scores for a PC

[Tormyr]

Having started during Encounters, I have pretty much only done Point Buy for starting stats in the games I have run. This allows a certain minimum while allowing customization.

If I ever get to play my half-orc barbarian, I might go for a 15,15,15,8,8,8.

 

[abirdcall]

If a player with "bad" ability scores deliberately tries to get killed, then yes, I would ban them from my game. They are a douche who is more interested in power gaming than role-playing.

It's powergaming to not have fun with a character who has no stat above a 10?

Really?

Ability scores in 5e are very important. They have a much bigger influence than the bonus from character level, which for a large chunk of the game is +2 to +3.

Ability scores in contrast will be -3 to +5. That is huge.

The idea should be for everyone to have a good time. You can call all the players at your table that don't have a good time powergamers but it sounds like you are the one who is on a power trip.

 

[Li Shenron]

It depends on how good the player is. And since there is no upper bound on that, there is no minimum scores either.

 

[delericho]

I allow each player to choose between rolls, standard array, or point buy. If they choose to roll, they get to reroll if their net modifier is +0 or less, or if their highest score is 13 or less. So, that would be the 'floor' for ability scores. (Obviously, this is a non-issue with the point buy and standard array options, as both are well above that 'floor'.)

Of course, if a player wants lower stats, then that's his prerogative - I won't stop him from playing such a character. Though I may well recommend against it.

What happens if the character dies? Do you kick the player out of the group?

If no, then the best thing to do in your game would be to have a terrible character just die.

I expect my players to play in good faith. So if they choose to roll and then don't get the stats they want, I expect them to stick with the character and to make the best of it. Deliberately killing off your character in order to roll again is a form of problem play, IMO. Doing it repeatedly would get you booted from the table.

It sounds like you should just have your players use point buy or standard array.

I give the choice because some players really like random generation, and I don't want to deny them that because some people might seek to abuse it.

As it happens, I've never had a problem with doing so - though most players go for the array anyway. Maybe I've just been lucky.

 

[Quartz]

How about this:

Drop racial stat bumps completely. Humans get 2 Feats, other races get one. Standard array is 16, 14, 14, 12, 10, 8. Note that all stats are even so players don't feel pushed to take a feat that gives +1 in a stat.

 

[abirdcall]

I expect my players to play in good faith. So if they choose to roll and then don't get the stats they want, I expect them to stick with the character and to make the best of it. Deliberately killing off your character in order to roll again is a form of problem play, IMO. Doing it repeatedly would get you booted from the table.

But you let people reroll if they get a terrible roll.

That was a directed at someone who would make a player play a character with 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6 for stats and accuse them of being a powergamer if they refuse.

Net of +0 and at least one 14 or thereabouts is reasonable I think.

 

[delericho]

But you let people reroll if they get a terrible roll.

That was a directed at someone who would make a player play a character with 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6 for stats and accuse them of being a powergamer if they refuse.

Net of +0 and at least one 14 or thereabouts is reasonable I think.

That's fair comment.

Though it's perhaps also fair to note I have seen people objecting to any method where the DM ultimately 'forces' a player to use a character they've rolled but aren't happy with. Even where the player has chosen to roll knowing the possible consequence and where the system is set up to eliminate truly 'worthless' characters.

(Or, to put that last a different way: not everyone agrees on what constitutes a 'reasonable' minimum. )

 

[abirdcall]

(Or, to put that last a different way: not everyone agrees on what constitutes a 'reasonable' minimum. )

Yep, and I think that will change game to game.

I think people should agree that there is a minimum somewhere.

The math of the game doesn't work if you have a -5 to everything you do.

 

[Shiroiken]

So, your argument is, "I did it, so everyone else can and should be able to do the same thing, and have the same fun"?

I, personally, think it is great that folks like lots of different things. I mean, really, if we all liked the same things, there'd be a world haggis shortage. In RPGs, it means having some consideration for folks who don't play exactly like ourselves, who want and get different things out of play - not necessarily mutually incompatible things, but some leeway and flexibility.

You are free to run your game your way. I never said that this was the way everyone should play, only the rules of my game. If you choose to play in my game, you are accepting these rules. If you don't, I (and everyone else at the table) don't want you there.

Well, no. Why should a player pay a penalty for the whole campaign when they have bad dice luck at the moment of character creation? A penalty is something imposed on you for doing something wrong - like cheating. Pay a penalty for being arrogant, or dumb in play? Sure. You reap what you sow. But for sheer bad luck? Not so much.

Did you read my original post? I give the player the option of using Array or Rolling, but if you Roll you are taking a risk. Risk means that yes, you will be punished if you roll badly. You made a choice, and suffer the consequences for that decision. If Rolling is the standard method (as in my current campaign), then I allow players to either use their rolls or default to Array. As a guy who generally rolls like crap, I wouldn't force someone to roll AND force them to keep a badly rolled character.

 

[abirdcall]

I give the player the option of using Array or Rolling, but if you Roll you are taking a risk. Risk means that yes, you will be punished if you roll badly. You made a choice, and suffer the consequences for that decision.

I am surprised your players show up week after week just to be punished further.

At least if I lose a hand of poker the punishment is swift and I get to move on with my life.