So, I rolled 5 18s

[Li Shenron]

Now the problem with this is, I was at home.

The key concept is that if you rolled it at home, then it simply didn't happen.

Think of it as something like a polevault jumper who has jumped over the world record heigh during practice... it's not that she can go to the next olympic games and pretend a gold because of that.

But if your DM allows people rolling PCs when they are away, it's her fault.

 

[GSHamster]

Ok, so I like to make characters in my spare time. Usually I'm trying some crazy new build. N othing like that this time. I jsut wanted to play a straight fighter who used a katana and was going to test out how broken(or unbroken) Melee Weapon Mastery(PHBII) is if it stacks.

If you're making characters to test stuff, why are you rolling? Shouldn't you use point buy, just to minimize variation?

Say you play this character, and he completely annhilates combat. Is that because Melee Weapon Mastery is broken, or because he has 5 18s?

 

[Bad Paper]

I was in the room when a new player rolled up her scores (4d6, drop lowest). She rolled a 3. For real. Four 1s showing. It was a beautiful, magical moment, not that unlikely, but when it happens, you know that the character is destined for greatness.

Or destined to die within the first minute of combat, as she did.

 

[catsclaw227]

I am not sure I would WANT to play a character with 5 18's, especially if the other PCs have usual scores.

Personally I use a 32-point buy and the players like it that way. No ambiguity and no envy over stats.

Personally, I feel weird about being the regular stat guy when the person at the table next to them has super scores. I may SAY that it doesn't bother them, or I would like to think it doesn't bother me, or I even feel ashamed that it DOES bother me, but it would at some point. Especially if the 5 18s guy likes to gloat about it. I am sure this experience isn't unique to me.

 

[Treebore]

I am not sure I would WANT to play a character with 5 18's, especially if the other PCs have usual scores.

Personally I use a 32-point buy and the players like it that way. No ambiguity and no envy over stats.

Personally, I feel weird about being the regular stat guy when the person at the table next to them has super scores. I may SAY that it doesn't bother them, or I would like to think it doesn't bother me, or I even feel ashamed that it DOES bother me, but it would at some point. Especially if the 5 18s guy likes to gloat about it. I am sure this experience isn't unique to me.

Use my stat increasing rules. Your character won't be "shown up" for long. Your 98 pound weakling can catch up pretty quick depending on if the campaign ever has "down time".

 

[molonel]

You know, I'm not saying people cheat, but it's odd. I've never, ever, no not even once seen a character even remotely similar to that rolled on the table in everyone's presence at my table.

Nowadays, I use point-buy exclusively. Better all around.

 

[cmanos]

You've never played Yahtzee, have you? The real odds are, of course, 50/50. Either it happens or it doesn't. You roll often enough and it'll happen eventually.

You have no concept of probability. The odds of rolling 3 6's on 5 dice are not 50/50.

 

[Joël of the FoS]

Two rules we implemented 20 years ago in my game:

Never roll any important dice when the DM isn't looking (yes, stats should always be rolled in front of the DM).

Never add anything to your stat sheet that the DM didn't allow (so you can't say something cheesy like "well I made a solo quest his afternoon for my PC, and he defeated a XYZ and found item ABC". No way, if it's not happening during the regular game, it's out of your sheet, buddy)

Joël

 

[MarkB]

Five 18s is, as mentioned, extremely unlikely - but if you're rolling up characters at home, then you're bound to get some very good results some of the time. What this effectively means is that you're allowing yourself indefinite numbers of re-rolls, and that's not a valid way to generate characters even if each individual set of stats is rolled legitimately.

As a DM, I use point-buy - but even if I used rolling, I would let you roll once, at the table, at the time you needed a new character. Anything else is unfair to the other players.

 

[Infiniti2000]

I don't get why people think like this. If the stats are all at or below starting racial max's how can it be abuse?

Racial max's? What game/version are you playing? There are no racial max's that I'm aware of.

As for being able to assign stats, I allow that too. This is a GAME, people. A game we play to have FUN. I'm not going to make someone play a character my way, its their way. Stats are a HUGE part of making a character.

So, then, you'd have no problem with me just choosing to have all 40's, right?