Three "Guaranteed 18" methods of random stat generation

Asmor

First Post
I've always been of the philosophy that every character deserves one 18. I just think that heroes should have one outstanding feature.

So I propose the following three methods of random stat generation which guarantee an 18.

The first, simplest, and perhaps most boring is you roll one set of stats, and are allowed to toss it out if it doesn't contain an 18, as long as you haven't already tossed a set that had an 18 (if, say, it was "tossable" by the RAW).

The next way, which is faster and also quite simple, is simply that after generating stats, you may choose to turn your best score into an 18 and your worst score into an 8. This is nice because it not only guarantees the character an outstanding feature, but it also guarantees them a failing. I've actually had this kicking around in my head for a long time, and it's entirely possible I actually saw someone else make up this idea. I really don't remember.

Finally, an idea I just had. After you roll your 6 stats, if you don't have any 18s, keep rolling and recording your rolls in the order you roll them. Keep rolling until you finally roll an 18. You can either keep your first 6 stats, or you can keep your last 6 stats (including the 18). This can take a while, since it actually requires you to roll an 18 (which is a 1/54 chance), but I like it because it's almost like a roller coaster ride... You start rolling a series of really high numbers and hope to get an 18 now to lock in those godly stats, and then your luck turns poor and you start rolling 9s and 11s and hope you don't get the 18 yet...
 
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Roll 24D6, drop the 6 lowest, arrange in threes.

Personally, I let my players choose their scores, up to a maximum total bonus. But I'm crazy, I also give them max HP per level.
 

How about: start with an 18 and then roll 5 more stats. Or Start with an 18 and an 8, then roll 4 more stats.

Another option would be a high-level point buy (36?) but require at least one 18 (and perhaps one 8?).
 


Asmor said:
I've always been of the philosophy that every character deserves one 18. I just think that heroes should have one outstanding feature.

So I propose the following three methods of random stat generation which guarantee an 18.

The first, simplest, and perhaps most boring is you roll one set of stats, and are allowed to toss it out if it doesn't contain an 18, as long as you haven't already tossed a set that had an 18 (if, say, it was "tossable" by the RAW).

The next way, which is faster and also quite simple, is simply that after generating stats, you may choose to turn your best score into an 18 and your worst score into an 8. This is nice because it not only guarantees the character an outstanding feature, but it also guarantees them a failing. I've actually had this kicking around in my head for a long time, and it's entirely possible I actually saw someone else make up this idea. I really don't remember.

Finally, an idea I just had. After you roll your 6 stats, if you don't have any 18s, keep rolling and recording your rolls in the order you roll them. Keep rolling until you finally roll an 18. You can either keep your first 6 stats, or you can keep your last 6 stats (including the 18). This can take a while, since it actually requires you to roll an 18 (which is a 1/36 chance), but I like it because it's almost like a roller coaster ride... You start rolling a series of really high numbers and hope to get an 18 now to lock in those godly stats, and then your luck turns poor and you start rolling 9s and 11s and hope you don't get the 18 yet...

1/36?

on 3d6 the chance of 1 specific combination (6,6,6) is: 1/6^3 = 1/216.
on 4d6 drop the lowest, we have a range of 1296 normally distributed combinations. 4*6 = 24 of them provide the 3 or more 6's needed to make an 18.
So thats a 1/54 chance of rolling an 18.

Of course you could add the common reroll all 1's rule with 4d6, in that case you actually have 625 normally distributed combinations.
5*4 = 20 of wich provide the 3 or more 6's for an 18.
That gives you a 4/125 (~1/31) chance of an 18.

with 3d6 reroll all 1's you have 125 normally distributed combinations.
of them 1 provides the needed 3 6's.
that 1/125.

The analasis of reroll only the first set of 1s is a tad more complicated, I'll leave that alone for now.
 

In my opinion, an 8 is hardly a "failing." Give 'em an 18 and a stat rolled on 1d4+2 and then allow them to roll the next normally. Some of my favorite pcs (mine and other peoples') had 3s to start with (or lower, with racial mods- how bout the kobold with a 1 str, for instance?).
 

Nadaka said:
1/36?

on 3d6 the chance of 1 specific combination (6,6,6) is: 1/6^3 = 1/216.
on 4d6 drop the lowest, we have a range of 1296 normally distributed combinations. 4*6 = 24 of them provide the 3 or more 6's needed to make an 18.
So thats a 1/54 chance of rolling an 18.

Of course you could add the common reroll all 1's rule with 4d6, in that case you actually have 625 normally distributed combinations.
5*4 = 20 of wich provide the 3 or more 6's for an 18.
That gives you a 4/125 (~1/31) chance of an 18.

with 3d6 reroll all 1's you have 125 normally distributed combinations.
of them 1 provides the needed 3 6's.
that 1/125.

The analasis of reroll only the first set of 1s is a tad more complicated, I'll leave that alone for now.

You are, of course, absolutely correct. The sad thing is, I really should have known this...

For some reason I was thinking 6 ways to roll an 18 out of 216 possible outcomes, which is so wrong I'm just ashamed.

Still a fun way to roll your stats, IMHO. :)
 

Asmor said:
The next way, which is faster and also quite simple, is simply that after generating stats, you may choose to turn your best score into an 18 and your worst score into an 8. This is nice because it not only guarantees the character an outstanding feature, but it also guarantees them a failing. I've actually had this kicking around in my head for a long time, and it's entirely possible I actually saw someone else make up this idea. I really don't remember.
... and if your worst score is lower than an 8, you get to raise it to an 8? That hardly seems like a balancing factor. :\
 

Asmor said:
I've always been of the philosophy that every character deserves one 18. I just think that heroes should have one outstanding feature.

So I propose the following three methods of random stat generation which guarantee an 18.

I take it that "point buy" will not be accepted as an answer? ;)

-- N
 


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