What the heck do I do with this?

[The Souljourner]

A friend is starting a new campaign next month, and is trying to make it less hack and slash than our usual games. That's cool.

Stats are 4d6 drop the lowest.

Here's the problem... this is what I rolled:

8, 8, 11, 11, 13, 13

See anything wrong there? I have *no* good stats.

Here are the race and class choices available to us... we're starting at 2nd level.

Race: Human, Halfling, Half Orc, Half-Elf (rare), Dwarf (not encouraged)

Class: Wizard, Fighter, Sorcerer, Rogue, Bard, Psion, Psychic Warrior

Campaign Premise: We're in a town on the edge of civilization, near the frozen wastes controlled by orcs and goblins. The town is full of people running from the law, and poor natives who can't afford to leave.

So.... any ideas on what I should be? I think I really only have two options - human rogue or bard. Rogues get sneak attack so I might be able to do some damage that way, or bard because I can keep up my Charisma with the spell levels by using ability score increases, and their songs work pretty much regardless of your charisma.

Thoughts? I'm tempted to ask my DM if I can just reroll my stats, since they're so bad.

=The Souljourner

 

[Ace32]

Being that your net modifier is +0, I would assume you would be allowed a reroll. The DMG suggests a reroll for any player without atleast a +1, because it isn't fair to you to be so thoroughly screwed.

 

[two]

reeketh

Those do reeketh mucheth.

You could do the bard thing with dex=13, ch=13, but if you are not into archery it won't be much fun. Your DC's are pretty weak.

You could be an OK half-orc fighter, maybe make him NOT a greatsword hack-n-slash guy rather a (surprise!) finesse fighter using mounted combat feats, or trips/sunders for chaotic fun. BAB makes up for bad stats, some. Can you rage and sunder? Might be worth a shot as a barbarian.

You could always do the "ranged touch" wizard guy. Your dc's suck but who cares. Dex=13 will be 14 soon and you don't need a LOT of bonuses to hit. PBShot as a feat, etc. Might work. Just an idea. Just keep your intelligence equal to your highest level spell castable. Might be fun.

 

[Saeviomagy]

1. Ask for a reroll. Really. Unless you're one of those people that think that lower stats make you a better roleplayer, reroll. I believe the PhB says you should have one.

2. If you don't get a reroll, start as an elf peasant and die horribly. Don't bother writing up a backstory. Pick skill focus (speak language) as your feat. Volunteer to go anywhere spooky first. In short, commit suicide.

 

[The Souljourner]

I was looking through the DMG and PHB because I remembered the hopeless character clause from an earlier edition... finally found it on page 8 of the PHB.

Rerolling If your scores are too low, you may scrap them and roll all six scores again. Your scores are considered too low if the sum of your modifiers (before adustments because of race) is 0 or lower, or if your highest score is 13 or lower.

I read that page to my DM and he said to go ahead and reroll. Here's what I got the second time:

9
12
12
14
14
15

Wow, what a difference, huh? Now I can be pretty much whatever I want.

-The Souljourner

 

[Zaruthustran]

1. Ask for a reroll. Really. Unless you're one of those people that think that lower stats make you a better roleplayer, reroll. I believe the PhB says you should have one.

2. If you don't get a reroll, start as an elf peasant and die horribly. Don't bother writing up a backstory. Pick skill focus (speak language) as your feat. Volunteer to go anywhere spooky first. In short, commit suicide.

I love idea number 2. Really--go for it! I bet you'll have a really fun time, and years from now this crummy character will be one of your favorites.

Or course, yeah, you'll totally die.

Here's a build for you:

Xander (inspired by, but not meant to be, the character from Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Half elf Bard
8, 8, 11, 11, 13, 13

Str 8 Dex 11 Con 11 Int 13 Wis 8 Cha 13

Feat: Negotiator.

Your Diplomacy mod will be (4 ranks + 1 Cha +2 Negotiator +2 Half Elf) +9. You'll have a pretty good chance at making friends, even with the -10 for single-round use.

You've got some useful skills. 7 maxed skills, or more if you spread them around. I'd max out Diplomacy, Bluff, Sense Motive, Gather Information, Disguise, 1 rank each in 4 different knowledges, and 4 languages. I wouldn't take Tumble--this guy depends on his mouth to get him out of trouble.

You can give everyone +1 1/day. That's useful.

And.. that's it. Run around, spy, try to disguise yourself and fool the enemy, and don't be surprised when you blow a bluff roll and find yourself smashed.

It'll be fun while it lasts.

-z

 

[The Souljourner]

Wow, that's funny. I love Xander. He's totally my favorite character on the show, and my girlfriend (now ex) says I act just like him. What a coincidence.

That's pretty much what I was resolving to do before I got the reroll. Be a bard, and sing until I die

That's ok, one of my friends managed to roll a 3! He's going to be the most gullible bard ever! Very likeable though! I guess it's hard to dislike someone that guileless.

-The Souljourner

 

[Cedric]

When I get the El Suck stats, I make a sorcerer...

Cedric

 

[The Souljourner]

The problem with spellcasters is that pesky spell level = ability score - 10 thing. Starting with a 13 means that at 11th level, your wizard or cleric or druid will be getting 6th level spells, but you'll only have 15 in your requisite stat. at 12th this gets fixed, but then at 13th, you're SOL again, since you have access to 7th level spells, but only 16 in the stat. And it only gets worse at 15th.

Granted, you could have a magic item to bump your stat, but it kind of sucks knowing that losing one magic item will screw you out of your top 2 spell levels.

Bard works because they have a slower progression, and the bonuses can keep up with the spell levels.

-The Souljourner