D&D 5E Point buy or Dice?

[Sunseeker]

I prefer to roll dice, and I make my players roll too, though if they REALLY don't want to, I have a custom array (18.16.14.14.12.10) that players may use. With health though I always allow rolling, but you may choose to take the average+1 if your roll is less than it or don't want to roll.

 

[iserith]

As DM, I leave it to the players to decide how they want to generate their stats. (Rolling must be done in front of the group and you're stuck with what you got.)

As a player, I prefer to just use the default array.

 

[Herr der Qual]

In the groups I play in and the groups I DM, the first level is always max HP as per the book, after that it is always a roll, if it's a one or something, we allow for one Hit Die re-roll per campaign.

 

[PnPgamer]

I prefer to roll dice, and I make my players roll too, though if they REALLY don't want to, I have a custom array (18.16.14.14.12.10) that players may use. With health though I always allow rolling, but you may choose to take the average+1 if your roll is less than it or don't want to roll.

I want that array...

 

[Paraxis]

I prefer point buy but like to expand the table to allow for purchasing up to 18's. I prefer hit points to be average listed in book.

Now I have a few old school players who love to roll dice so I compromised with my group. You can roll as per the book 4d6 dropping the lowest arrange to taste, but that is it one chance no BS about multiple sets or re rolling 1's. If the rolled stats are deemed unplayable you may use the array from the PHB. If you choose not to roll you can use point buy instead so you can optimize your stats. For those who like to roll hit points I allow that too, but again just the one roll take it as it lays and rolled in front of everyone. After a barbarian rolled less than 3 for the first 6 levels in our first campaign, no one seems to want to roll anymore.

 

[Parmandur]

Dice, dice Baby!

Point buy is dull and tedious, rolling dice is fun. It adds spice and improves the game. Mo' dice is mo' bettah!

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

In our current game, I had the three players roll 4d6 drop lowest, in order, twice. This generated six stat sets that anyone could use, or you could take a slightly beefed up standard array and put the scores in any stats. This let the dice roller types get their randomness AND maintained balance in that no one's stats were automatically better/worse than anyone else. Requiring the rolled stats to be recorded in order made for some more unique combinations than you normally see.

Since one player rolled an 18 in Strength AND Charisma, the party has a paladin and a bladelock who have the exact same stats. We almost had all three use that array with a bard, but my wife eventually decided on a rogue instead and went with the dex/con heavy set.

For HP we use max on 1st 2 levels, then average +1 afterwards. I do roll non-boss monster HP (and usually max or double max boss types).

I prefer more randomness in task resolution, less in character generation resources. I do try and let the party randomly roll for treasure at least once per adventure though.

 

[Jeff Carlsen]

I allow my players to roll or take the array, but if they roll, they must keep the result. Same for HP. All my players have chosen to roll without even looking at the array.

Someday I will run a game of 3d6 in order. But not a major campaign.

 

[TarionzCousin]

I was in a game store a while back when a group was waiting for their DM to arrive. They were talking about making characters "back in the day," that is, 3d6 in order. One guy was about 18 and curious, so he rolled up a character.

He got an 18, a couple 16's, and everything else 10 or above--until his final roll. Before that, the other players were freaking out at how well he was rolling. Of course, the guy rolled a 3 in Charisma and everyone laughed.

Note: all the Old School gamers said "I would still play that character in a heartbeat."

 

[GameOgre]

My players always want to roll stats but what they are really saying is they want great stats!

If they roll 18,16,14,12,11,10 they will be happy as all get out but let a 3,5,7,8,9,10 come up and it's "I don't want to play this character, let me roll again or use point buy.

Also they have AMAZING luck rolling as long as I'm not looking at there dice rolls for stats.

It's just better to tell them to use point buy and be done with it.