D&D General Sampling Random Ability Scores

[OptionalRule]

I wrote a small post comparing different random agility score generation methods, why games may or may not want to use them, etc. This is an evergreen topic but I tried to include a table of the ideal stat set (all of it generated out of AnyDice with links to the originals), so you can examine a Standard Array by different means if you wish.

Sampling Random Ability Scores

 

[mrpopstar]

Interesting! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Lanefan]

3d6 reroll 1s - isn't that exactly the same as 3d5+3 only with more rolling?

 

[TarionzCousin]

Sampling Random Ability Scores

Focused, full of data, and not long. Well done.

 

[DeviousQuail]

3d6 reroll 1s - isn't that exactly the same as 3d5+3 only with more rolling?

It's the scenic route. And yes, they have identical outcomes.

 

[Blue Orange]

3d5 was pretty impractical in the pre-Internet era unless you wanted to code it up yourself (and computers were pretty pricey before the 90s or so).

Interesting 3d6 reroll 1's matches the standard array best.

 

[OptionalRule]

3d6 reroll 1s - isn't that exactly the same as 3d5+3 only with more rolling?

Yes it's exactly the same. If you look at the anydice, I actually am using 3d5+3 as the model, but the system is more typically described as 3d6/reroll 1s and I didn't want people reacting to that and have to explain it's exactly the same all the time.

 

[Lanefan]

3d5 was pretty impractical in the pre-Internet era unless you wanted to code it up yourself (and computers were pretty pricey before the 90s or so).

Er...why the hell would I need to code anything in order to roll three dice?

Roll 3d10 and divide each number by 2: boom. 3d5.

 

[Shiroiken]

Er...why the hell would I need to code anything in order to roll three dice?

Math is hard?

 

[Lakesidefantasy]

1d20 divided by 4, thrice, plus 3. BAM!