So, how do you create new characters?

[Gez]

At Mark's request.

Since we have lots of point-buy threads, how numerous

Dice roll: Ability scores are rolled randomly. If you don't roll dice but use another random generator, vote this. Don't care much about whether it's 4d6-drop-lowest or some other method.
Point-buy: It's the official D&D point-buy method, where a 8 costs 0 points, and a 18 costs 16 points, and you have somewhere between 0 and 96 points to spend. If you really don't know what it is, you need to browse the forum a bit more.
Point repartition: As point-buy, except a 18 would cost 10 points more than a 8 would: one point buys one point, no sliding scale that makes the highest scores more expensive than they "should".
Ability modifier repartition: Rather than buying ability points, and then extrapolating your ability modifiers, you do the reverse.
Arrays: One (or maybe several) set of 6 abilities, that everyone get, and you spread them as you want. D&D pregen NPCs all use a default array of 15-14-13-12-10-8.
Some crazy-weird method: If you're amongst the 137% of the population of EN World that are insane genius with a flair for the overcomplicated designs, then you'll want to vote this. More seriously, this is the "other" vote.

 

[CRGreathouse]

I voted "Dice rolls for PCs, arrays for NPCs", but "Dice rolls for PCs, DM chooses for NPCs" would be more accurate.

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

I vote 'Other'. 28 or 32 point buy for PCs, NPCs get whatever I think they should have/need based on the planned encounter.

I do point-buy for PCs just so no one feels shafted if the dice don't go there way while someone else gets really lucky. No one feels bad if the NPC's have better stats.

 

[EricNoah]

Dice rolls for PCs, arrays (more or less) for NPCs. Sometimes I just have PCs pick the scores they want, though, and I often just pick the scores for NPCs.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

how do you create new characters?

I suppose I should let my secret out.

I send $5 to a private Pay Pal address: Gez@paypal.com Two weeks later I get a core rules NPC. Whoever this mystery person is, I can't thank him or her enough. I mean sure, I've spent $3,120 this way, but I've also gotten a lot of NPCs.

-BG

PS OK, I actually use standard array.

 

[Tinner]

No duct tape, but my sysem is different from the other choices.
Dice for PC's.
Whatever I feel like for everyone else. I don't bother with arrays for NPCs, I just assign whatever seems likely, or would make for an interesting encounter.

 

[IronWolf]

Point buy for everyone in my games. Good enough for the PC's, good enough for the NPC's...

 

[megamania]

PCs-
I prefer their use 32 point buy but some insist on rolling. Sometimes this works in their favor ...other times not.

NPCs
Reoccuring villians get the Point Buy of 32.

Others I use Ultimate NPC or throw together "normal" stats.

 

[FreeTheSlaves]

NPC's with NPC class = 15pt buy
Gifted NPC's with NPC class = 20pt buy
NPC with PC class = 20pt buy
Special NPC regardless of class = 25pt buy or 4d6dl

PC's = 25pt buy or 4d6dl, average hps (round down even level, round up odd level) for point buy, roll once normally for 4d6dl.

My philosophy is if you pick up the dice you accept whatever results; to reinforce this I've begun sessions with asking a player to roll stats for an upcoming significant NPC.

 

[Crothian]

Players pick their ability scores and I assign whatever I feel is needed to NPCs. No dice no point buy. Players are only limited by themsleves.