D&D 5E Rolling for Stats

[Kobold Stew]

If everyone was happy rolling, then let it ride.

Next time, I would give players a choice -- point buy (incl. the default point buy, ~ array) or roll. BUT: if they choose to roll, they shouldn't get a sop if they roll low. You take the risk, and (as they say in playschool) you get what you get. If you're not prepared to be under-average (and, frankly, 30 points is just fine), then use point buy.

 

[Psikerlord#]

What I like to do is have everybody roll stats but then let the players choose their stats from any of the rolls. That way you still get the random flavour of rolled stats but no one player has much worse or much better stats.

This does result in slightly higher average stats when using 4d6 drop 1, so I like to use the standard 3d6. For smaller groups of 2-3 people, 4d6-1 can work.

Happy gaming!

I like the above and will be proposing something similar to my group, roll using 4d6 drop lowest, arrange however you like. Anyone can use anyone else's 6 rolls if they like, but if you borrow someone else's rolls, roll a d4 and somehow take that off the scores (so the guy who actually had the original rolls retains scores slightly higher, and to keep a bit of variance among PCs, just in case everyone chooses the same 6 rolls!).

We started out in 2e with rolling stats, then went point buy in 3e coz it was "fairer" .... but after many years, and seeing all the carbon copy PCs (all fighters with 8 int, all wizards with 8 str, etc etc) this got very stale - so we are back back to rolling, and it's great. As long as no-one gets left behind it works very well (and if you let players copy another players rolls no-one gets left behind - it's still "fair"). Yeah, you tend to get more powerful PCs... but they're heroes after all, and you can always add more monsters ....

 

[Rabbitbait]

Ahhh, memories. I remember back in the 2e game I DMed - we rolled 4d6 drop lowest, and one of the players rolled a dwarf fighter with 18 strength and 6 dexterity.

I gave him the option to reroll all the scores, but he decided to stick with it and see what would happen.

Those scores defined the character and he built the personality and concept around that. It caused a whole heap of laughter around the trouble his clumsiness caused and the player absolutely loved playing him. We never expected him to survive long, but he survived the longest and was still around when the campaign fizzled out at about 14th level.

It really depends how you play. For us, the scores rolled were the window to the personality of the character and that worked well.

 

[Rabbitbait]

In 5e I think I'll let each player decide whether they roll or take the array. But no backing out if the roll isn't fantastic.

Although if it is horrendous I will let them roll again if they want.

 

[doghead]

So I would love to get some randomness back into the mix but I don't want the range to be too far out of whack. Balance is overrated in a co-op game but people still notice when Grognar does twice as much damage as Elfowin every round.

I quite like the idea of 3x3 or 6x6 Arrays.

Alternatively, replace the 1d6 with 1d4+2. So 3d4+6 (9-18 range, ave 13-14).
Or 2d6+6 (8-18 range, ave 13.)

We're going to go with a 30 point buy - I think everyone is fine with it as they know it will make my life easier ....

Cool. Sounds like a good plan.

thotd

 

[Murkmoldiev]

How I do it is the 4d6 - the lowest BUT if your total bonus adjustment is less that + 5 you get a full re roll.
This works very well. A character could have 13 18 10 8 12 9 and be good to go.
The choice of 15 14 13 12 10 8 in the PHB also happens to be + 5

I have one player who just rolls 3d6 down the line in memory of his father who taught him D&D back in the 80s . This guys characters always wind up survivng the TPKs for some reason... well TPKs except for Thelan Hutch child rogue Stats 6 14 9 12 11 7 , weapon slingshot, possessions- a bag of nuts and raisins.

 

[Gidonihah]

Personally I use a backup system. Standard roll, and if its bad or undesirable they have the option of using pointbuy instead.

 

[doghead]

Personally I use a backup system. Standard roll, and if its bad or undesirable they have the option of using pointbuy instead.

I've never really been a fan of this. Its a bit too much a case of having your cake and eating it too.

thotd

 

[edhel]

Another rolled the grid. 3d6 on a 3x3 grid. SDC on one axis, IWC on the other. He ended up with two 16s, and lowest value 9.

Interesting. My players rolled straight 3d6 on a 6x6 and chose stats as a group. Everyone seemed ok with it.
I hadn't thought about 3x3 but that seems pretty ok for new characters after the original ones start dying.

 

[Lalato]

Interesting. My players rolled straight 3d6 on a 6x6 and chose stats as a group. Everyone seemed ok with it.
I hadn't thought about 3x3 but that seems pretty ok for new characters after the original ones start dying.

If you want to get something closer to the 6x6 and still use the 3x3... try doing 4d6 drop lowest on the 3x3 grid.