So, I rolled 5 18s

[Patlin]

Lowering high results and raising low results to make it seem fair is something I've had DMs do in the past.

Now we use point buy, which I much prefer.

 

[griff_goodbeard]

Just sprap 'em In my gaming group it seems that a lot of high stats are a curse. The ones that make it to high level are always the gimpy stated ones.

 

[Shellman]

thats why my group uses the point buy system.

otherwise those 5 x 18's would not be allowed unless rolled infront of the group.

 

[Legildur]

Now we use point buy, which I much prefer.

My groups prefer rolling stats. But I'm gradually introducing them to the idea of Point Buy.

My only concern is that PB favours that characters without Multiple Ability Dependency. Whereas the Fighter needs Str and Con, the Paladin needs Str, Con, Cha and (hopefully) Wis. So a PB usually favours a Ftr as they can afford to neglect more stats and favour others.

Is this a factor anyone else observes?

PS As to the original issue, I'd probably scale it back as well, just to remove any doubt or bias.

 

[Nonlethal Force]

just go with one 18. maybe a 17 a 16 two 14's and a 13. That should really be enuff for anyone, and any concept.

Excellent advice. Do that.

My only concern is that PB favours that characters without Multiple Ability Dependency. Whereas the Fighter needs Str and Con, the Paladin needs Str, Con, Cha and (hopefully) Wis. So a PB usually favours a Ftr as they can afford to neglect more stats and favour others.

Is this a factor anyone else observes?

Just the opposite, actually. The first few times we did point buy everyone picked a mono dependant class (or should I say a class with one majorly important stat and then CON ... cause everyone can use a bit of CON). But after we created a few characters and our characters got past something like level 6 or 8 we realized that magic items really take the edge off the difference between a 14 and an 18. I realize that it is a difference of +2 ... but magic items really help that. My guess is that a low-magic world will still feel the bite of a PB system. But if you allow the magic items from the DMG I think you'll find it not a big deal.

As an aside, I use a 32 point PB system. It makes powerful characters, but we like it that way. My group also likes me to use humanoid villans rather than monsters most of the time. And they prefer me to metagame the villans and their henchmen in character creation and gear their numbers to their strengths for the challenge. I should say that I use a 32 point buy for every villain and his leiutennants (or equivalent). The henchmen are often 25 or 28 point buys ... but don't tell the group!

You'll be fine. If you use a 32 point buy you can make any character you want. Trust me. A 32 point buy can get you a 16, 14, 14, 14, 10, 10. And that's before racial mods are in. Most MADD suffering classes can work under those stats. And most non-MADD classes can tweak that list to make the 16 an 18.

 

[Drowbane]

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. SO I rolled his stats and they came up 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 11. Now the problem with this is, I was at home. My group doesn't take scores under 10 anyway so usualy nobody cares when someone comes in with like two 17s and an 18 or something, but I got 54 freakin' 18s. On the other hand, my brother saw the whole thing and could vouch that it actually happened. The REAL problem, is even if he was allowed, should I use the 5 18s? Will the other players be jealous(or even secretly think me a cheater)? But, who are they to deny me to play a character whom the likes of will never be seen again?

I managed to put this in the TOTALLY wrong forum, can someone fix that?

As a DM, I don't mind high stats, in fact I encourage them... however, if it wasn't rolled in my presence, it wasn't rolled.

 

[DerHauptman]

My players pick their scores anyways. Peer pressure keeps em from being silly about it.

In your situation I'd allow it of course but as a child protégé you'd be a marked man. Like a gunfighter in the wild west people would constantly be calling you out to knock you down a peg. Its just like that in real life if you think about it. Everyone secretly hates the guy who is good at everything.

We all remember the guy in High School that played 6 sports was all state at 3 of them, on the honor role or even Valedictorian, class president got all the girls, was never ill and even had superb common sense, at least I do. I hate him cause self depreciation is my hobby.

 

[Wolf72]

We still prefer rolling ... and our group wouldn't let you have any stats until you rolled in front of the group.

a. it's just more fair
b. more believable
c. if you're rolling poorly the DM can step in and 'help'

d. ... having one or two low scores is actually kind of fun (ie my 9 dex half-orc who rolled several init's under 5 .... then the -1)

 

[KarinsDad]

As an aside, I use a 32 point PB system. It makes powerful characters, but we like it that way. My group also likes me to use humanoid villans rather than monsters most of the time. And they prefer me to metagame the villans and their henchmen in character creation and gear their numbers to their strengths for the challenge. I should say that I use a 32 point buy for every villain and his leiutennants (or equivalent). The henchmen are often 25 or 28 point buys ... but don't tell the group!

I actually prefer 35 point buy for PCs since it forces every PC to have at least one odd ability score at first level.

My main NPC villains are 35 point buy as well.

Their NPC lieutenants / henchmen are 25 point buy as are the NPC cohorts of the PCs.

And the NPC mooks and most other monsters are 15 point buy as per the Monster Manual.

 

[RigaMortus2]

Man, there are a lot of untrustworthy people here... My DM would allow it, but the players may be sarcastic about it. Not that they wouldn't believe you, they would just poke fun ("Suuuuuure you rolled 5 18s").

Of course, now we use point buy anyway, though there is randomness in that. 33+1d6 points.