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Racial Ability Scores: Default Low Ability Score
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<blockquote data-quote="DammitVictor" data-source="post: 7814622" data-attributes="member: 6750908"><p>The key problem with DLAB (and DHAB) is that they're going to enforce... rather more uniformity than you want, in terms of ability score variation within a race, and in terms of what classes each race can viably play. Notably, this isn't going to lock the races into the classes you want, and it's going to lock them out of classes you do want.</p><p></p><p>Dwarves with DLAB Charisma are going to fare poorly as Paladins or Clerics. DHAB Constitution means their high stat is never going to be the primary for their class. Going to see a lot of Barbarians.</p><p></p><p>Elves with DLAB Constitution? Never gonna be Bladesingers. Actually, you're probably just never gonna see an Elf again. This may be a point in your favor.</p><p></p><p>I've mentioned it before, and I'm gonna keep mentioning it, but <em>Alternity</em> had a pretty standard point-buy system-- unweighted, unfortunately-- but had two alternate random generation methods in the <em>Gamemaster's Guide</em>: one, you picked your Profession first, and rolled 6 Ability Scores guaranteed to get your Prof minimums; two, you picked your <em>Species</em> first and rolled 6 Ability Scores guaranteed to fall within your minimum <em>and maximum</em> values.</p><p></p><p>Like, say, human is 2d6+2 for each. (Human range was 4-14.) Weren might get 10+d4 for Strength, but 2+2d4 for Intelligence. Combat Spec also got 10+d4 for STR and 8+d6 for DEX. All approximately, away from books.</p><p></p><p>And what I've been trying to do for the last twenty years is <em>combine them</em>, so you pick <em>Profession and Species</em>, average the two rolls for each score, and then adjust for minimums and maximums accordingly.</p><p></p><p>---</p><p></p><p>Still <em>away from books</em>, but you remember that one AD&D method where you got some ridiculous number of d6s and you allocated them to your six abilities and rolled them and... picked the best, I think?</p><p></p><p>I'm wondering if you could building something like the <em>Alternity</em> optional methods out of something like that. Gonna try to remember to have a look when I get back to my library.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="DammitVictor, post: 7814622, member: 6750908"] The key problem with DLAB (and DHAB) is that they're going to enforce... rather more uniformity than you want, in terms of ability score variation within a race, and in terms of what classes each race can viably play. Notably, this isn't going to lock the races into the classes you want, and it's going to lock them out of classes you do want. Dwarves with DLAB Charisma are going to fare poorly as Paladins or Clerics. DHAB Constitution means their high stat is never going to be the primary for their class. Going to see a lot of Barbarians. Elves with DLAB Constitution? Never gonna be Bladesingers. Actually, you're probably just never gonna see an Elf again. This may be a point in your favor. I've mentioned it before, and I'm gonna keep mentioning it, but [i]Alternity[/i] had a pretty standard point-buy system-- unweighted, unfortunately-- but had two alternate random generation methods in the [i]Gamemaster's Guide[/i]: one, you picked your Profession first, and rolled 6 Ability Scores guaranteed to get your Prof minimums; two, you picked your [i]Species[/i] first and rolled 6 Ability Scores guaranteed to fall within your minimum [i]and maximum[/i] values. Like, say, human is 2d6+2 for each. (Human range was 4-14.) Weren might get 10+d4 for Strength, but 2+2d4 for Intelligence. Combat Spec also got 10+d4 for STR and 8+d6 for DEX. All approximately, away from books. And what I've been trying to do for the last twenty years is [i]combine them[/i], so you pick [i]Profession and Species[/i], average the two rolls for each score, and then adjust for minimums and maximums accordingly. --- Still [i]away from books[/i], but you remember that one AD&D method where you got some ridiculous number of d6s and you allocated them to your six abilities and rolled them and... picked the best, I think? I'm wondering if you could building something like the [i]Alternity[/i] optional methods out of something like that. Gonna try to remember to have a look when I get back to my library. [/QUOTE]
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