D&D 5E Playing through a Sample Stat Draft (COMPLETED!)

[prabe]

In spite of the numerical near-equivalence, I really think my first set would be more playable--as some sort of cleric, probably. That second set has a reasonable INT but really nothing else worth writing home about.

I'd be curious to see what sort of party might come out of a table sitting down and going through this. Like, for the reasons that came up in-thread, for a party doing it all of a piece to have better luck staying out of each other's way and stuff.

 

[Charlaquin]

@Charlaquin:
Set One: STR 10 DEX 16 CON 12 INT 12 WIS 12 CHA 11 - Total: 73 (+6)
Set Two: STR 11 DEX 9 WLD 11 INT 14 WIS 16 CHA 11 - Total: 72 (+4)

These worked out pretty great for me. As mentioned earlier, I would use the floating ASIs to give set one +2 Dex and +1 Cha and take variant human for Lucky and keep it as a very versatile backup character. Set 2, I would use the floating bonuses to put +1 each in Str, Dex, and Cha, and again take variant human for Resilient (Constitution). Would make for a great cleric or druid.

I definitely liked the second set better. I’m a min/maxer, so I found the high highs and low lows more fun than a bunch of middling scores.

I will say, I think this would make a really fun session 0 activity. Similar vibes to a “rolling party,” but you’re all sort of working together to assemble the whole party’s stats instead of everyone just making their own.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Yeah, a fun exercise for a session zero and you don't wind up with all the same six scores, which I find happens 90% of the time (in differing order, of course) when we play these days (I haven't rolled abilities in years) which is the one drawback I can think to point-buy or arrays. So, that's neat. It's not like any of the results suck, or are too great, compared to the others. Works out pretty well!

 

[FitzTheRuke]

I'd make my halfling ranger out of my second set. But I kinda like the dwarf from the first set, too... they're just different characters. I'd play either.

 

[Baron Opal II]

I had a plan with the first set, my second was more organic. I would be happy to play the elven Ftr/MU I had in mind to begin with. I think, however, I am intrigued by a playing a strong Constitution sorcerer. He would probably be human, and perhaps use ASIs and feats to have more endurance the would be expected from an otherwise fragile class. Outdoorsy-type.

This was definitely fun, and I agree with it being an interesting way to roll up characters.

 

[TwoSix]

I posted a thread for my draft, if anyone wants to take a look.

D&D 5E - Help playtest my fantasy stat draft!

@Fenris-77 @Snarf Zagyg @akr71 Hello! After the recent completion of @el-remmen's recent stat draft (find here), I've been inspired to put together my own (somewhat more convoluted) version of the same idea for my own group. I'm trying out some slightly different ideas, and I will admit my...

www.enworld.org

 

[TwoSix]

And huge props to @el-remmen for running this, this was a lot of fun.

 

[jayoungr]

This reminds me of a thing I saw online years ago, but I can't remember where. In that version, the pre-rolled stats were lined up on a grid, and players would take turns "drafting" a whole row or column at a time. Does anyone remember seeing that method?

 

[el-remmen]

This reminds me of a thing I saw online years ago, but I can't remember where. In that version, the pre-rolled stats were lined up on a grid, and players would take turns "drafting" a whole row or column at a time. Does anyone remember seeing that method?

I'd have to see that to understand how it works - but I am interested in all variations on stat drafting.

 

[Swarmkeeper]

@Swarmkeeper:
Set One: STR 8 DEX 13 WLD 11 INT 15 WIS 11 CHA 9 - Total: 67 (+1)
Set Two: STR 9 DEX 12 CON 16 INT 10 WIS 10 CHA 14 - Total: 70 (+5)

I am also curious for people's takes on the disparities in the stat sets.

That was good fun @el-remmen!

I liked the 2nd stat set better as it felt like we all had a chance to land multiple 14-16s which mirrors point buy well or rolling in that it gives that slight giddiness of rolling high-ish. Also, I had a better handle on the rules (looking at you, picked-too-soon-STR 8!)

That said, I believe I’m very much able to build a solid 1st level character with either draft result. First set: non-human floating ASI with +1 each to Dex, Con, and either Int for a Wizard or Wis for a Rogue. Second set: +2 to Cha and +1 wherever else provides a solid Sorcerer or maybe a Warlock or even a passable Bard.

 

[Swarmkeeper]

This reminds me of a thing I saw online years ago, but I can't remember where. In that version, the pre-rolled stats were lined up on a grid, and players would take turns "drafting" a whole row or column at a time. Does anyone remember seeing that method?

I'd have to see that to understand how it works - but I am interested in all variations on stat drafting.

I believe these are the droids you’re looking for:

House Rule: The Matrix – An Alternative method for starting PC stats – The Rpg Academy

therpgacademy.com

 

[Baron Opal II]

So... How did you come up with the matrix? Massage the typical array with one row per character?

 

[el-remmen]

So... How did you come up with the matrix? Massage the typical array with one row per character?

I started with the standard array and then raised and lowered numbers for each set to keep them close and look like a good range of numbers in the middle (for the first matrix). I did the same thing for the second matrix, but raised more numbers to 16 and lowered more numbers over all to get a high and low range with less in the middle.

I then added up all the numbers in each set and compared and tweaked until both had the same total number. In the past I have kept them within five points of each other - but this time I wanted to try using equal totals.

I also tried to make sure that everyone could have at least one 16 to 18 or two or more 15+ using the floating ASI.

 

[Charlaquin]

I started with the standard array and then raised and lowered numbers for each set to keep them close and look like a good range of numbers in the middle (for the first matrix). I did the same thing for the second matrix, but raised more numbers to 16 and lowered more numbers over all to get a high and low range with less in the middle.

I then added up all the numbers in each set and compared and tweaked until both had the same total number. In the past I have kept them within five points of each other - but this time I wanted to try using equal totals.

I also tried to make sure that everyone could have at least one 16 to 18 or two or more 15+ using the floating ASI.

I kinda liked that one had more high and low scores and the other had more average ones. That made it possible to make one character with very “safe” picks and one I could play a bit riskier.

 

[jayoungr]

I believe these are the droids you’re looking for:

House Rule: The Matrix – An Alternative method for starting PC stats – The Rpg Academy

therpgacademy.com

I do believe that was it. Thanks!

 

[el-remmen]

Hey hey to those participated in this (@TwoSix, @FitzTheRuke , @Charlaquin, @Baron Opal II @Swarmkeeper & @prabe) or followed along or is interested after the fact. . . I just released my latest HOW I RUN IT zine which includes instructions, sample arrays, and an example draft based on the one in this thread (I changed/shortened participant names for clarity and to shield their identities )
Anyway, links to how to order it if you're interested are found in the last post of this thread.

 

[el-remmen]

Just resurrecting this to say I ran through one in person today for my new "Primordial Evil" campaign (based on ToEE)