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<blockquote data-quote="tetrasodium" data-source="post: 8415232" data-attributes="member: 93670">random rolls worked well back in 1e&amp;2e, but not since 3.5 and there are reasons related to the historical system mechanics for that. Without those differences they cause problems. It worked till 2e because of system differences &amp; failed different in 3.x again because of differences.&nbsp; 5e is different from both &amp; is unable to make use of the ways it could work or kinda work that those earlier editions enjoyedPrior to 3.x (1e/2e) A +1 started around a 15 in an ability while -1 started around a six in an ability&nbsp; giving a nine point dead zone of +/-0 that was likely to contain nearly every ability score roll.&nbsp; The different abilities would add a small bonus or penalty to specific things even within that dead zone, but in general it was a very minor thing.&nbsp; Rolling ability scores itroduced some random near ribbon flavoring to characters as a result of this dead zone that no longer exists.One of the big improvements that 3.5* made was to standardize the ability score mods to the -1/+1 at 8 &amp; 12 with another +1/-1 every 2 points in an ability that we all know today.&nbsp; You could still roll stats but the gm needed to be more careful when awarding treasure &amp; strongly consider everyoe's rolls against the magic items they dish out&nbsp; making it a bit of a mess that wound up feeling lacking compared to just starting everyone with a few levels to kick them off a seasoned.5e has the same +/-1 every 2 points from 10 as 3.x did but also assumes no feats &amp; no magic items so the gm doesn't even have the option of massaging the trasure rewards like in 3.x &amp; certainly doesn't have the kind of deadzone present in 1e/2e*Maybe 3.0 too I dunno</blockquote>

[QUOTE="tetrasodium, post: 8415232, member: 93670"] random rolls worked well back in 1e&2e, but not since 3.5 and there are reasons related to the historical system mechanics for that. Without those differences they cause problems. It worked till 2e because of system differences & failed different in 3.x again because of differences. 5e is different from both & is unable to make use of the ways it could work or kinda work that those earlier editions enjoyed Prior to 3.x (1e/2e) A +1 started around a 15 in an ability while -1 started around a [I]six [/I]in an ability giving a nine point dead zone of +/-0 that was likely to contain nearly every ability score roll. The different abilities would add a small bonus or penalty to specific things even within that dead zone, but in general it was a very minor thing. Rolling ability scores itroduced some random near ribbon flavoring to characters as a result of this dead zone that no longer exists. One of the big improvements that 3.5* made was to standardize the ability score mods to the -1/+1 at 8 & 12 with another +1/-1 every 2 points in an ability that we all know today. You could still roll stats but the gm needed to be more careful when awarding treasure & strongly consider everyoe's rolls against the magic items they dish out making it a bit of a mess that wound up feeling lacking compared to just starting everyone with a few levels to kick them off a seasoned. 5e has the same +/-1 every 2 points from 10 as 3.x did but also assumes no feats & no magic items so the gm doesn't even have the option of massaging the trasure rewards like in 3.x & certainly doesn't have the kind of deadzone present in 1e/2e *Maybe 3.0 too I dunno [/QUOTE]

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