Three "Guaranteed 18" methods of random stat generation

[Thurbane]

How about: start with an 18 and then roll 5 more stats.

Sounds like the simplest method to me.

 

[Aus_Snow]

Yep. Place an 18, then roll 5 ability scores using (f'rex) 4d6 drop lowest. Maybe have some kind of safety net for these 5 rolls. Adjust to taste.

 

[Rystil Arden]

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

-- N

It depends--is the point buy random? Since random was one of the key qualifiers there

 

[Asmor]

It depends--is the point buy random? Since random was one of the key qualifiers there

Actually, that's an interesting concept... Random point buy. I mean, if it's something a bit different than 1d10+20 or whatever...

Idea:

All rolls have a minimum of 1.

Roll 1d6-4. That's how much it costs to buy points up to 12.
1d6-3 for how much it costs to buy 13-14
1d6-2 for how much it costs to buy 15-16
1d6-1 for how much it costs to buy 17-18

And then maybe do this for each stat, so every stat has a "cost schedule." Organic point buy, anyone?

 

[kirstar]

we roll 4d6 keep the best 3

We usually say 1 16 is acceptable.

Rolling terrible stats can be fun.

I remember A character I had in 2e with 7 wisdom and I got to level 40 with him. Admitidly plenty of wishes at higher levels fixed the low stat, but it was fun anyway

 

[robjh]

Let them roll 3d6 for every stat and allow them to substitute a six for any three of the rolls.

 

[Machiavelli]

Rob, these are the first 5 sets I rolled with that method:

11, 12, 12, 14, 15, 16 = 80, or 35pt

12, 15, 15, 16, 17, 17 = 92, or 50pt

13, 13, 17, 17, 18, 18 = 96, or 68pt

14, 14, 15, 16, 16, 16 = 91, or 50pt

12, 14, 14, 15, 15, 18 = 88, or 48pt

Though my sample may be small, your method seems to give an average of 90 or so flat ability points, or somewhere around 50 points according to the point buy system. That's VERY high compared to the usual 32 point system.
Also, the points seem better distributed, with 12 or 13 being the usual lowest number and 16 or 17 being the highest.

Not a bad system for creating a mix of character power levels on the very high end of the usual power scale.

 

[Aus_Snow]

That's VERY high compared to the usual 32 point system.

Actually, the usual is 25. 32 is recommended for "high powered campaigns".

I can only imagine what 50-odd points would be called.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Use loaded dice?