What to you do for attributes

[The_Spider]

Do you roll 4d6 or do you prefer your players use the default array or some other method?

The array has the advantages of all players being created equal but at the cost of uniques scores that 4d6 could provide. The thing about 4d6 is that one player can have far better scores then another and the other could roll very mediocre.

While comparing the two rolling methods i found in the dmg that npcs scores> pcs scores

I couldnt help but notice on pg 187 in the dmg that the standard npc array for ability scores is16,14,13,12,11,10

Dp players have enough points to make these scores? The npc looks like their abilty scores are the same or better.

 

[Palladion]

If you are looking for a fair solution between your players, have all your players roll 4d6 once (or extra times to fill out 6 rolls) and all players use the same rolls. We use a similar method in our games, works out fine. Point-buy is just a way to give everyone a level playing field, as is this method.

 

[Nifft]

22 point buy, just like it says in the book.

Players are welcome to roll until they have a set that adds up to 22 points, if they prefer.

Cheers, -- N

 

[jbrhymer]

Personally, I prefer the 4d6 rolling. Using a set point buy / standard array make it feel too cookie cutter for me. I like the RP that comes out of having large deviations in scores. But I also suggest, like it says in the book, setting some limits (mainly a lower). I still want the players to have fun, and rolling a bunch of extremely low scores can make a player disinterested in his or her character...

 

[SSquirrel]

If you are looking for a fair solution between your players, have all your players roll 4d6 once (or extra times to fill out 6 rolls) and all players use the same rolls. We use a similar method in our games, works out fine. Point-buy is just a way to give everyone a level playing field, as is this method.

3 players so more heroic is the idea. 13-18, one of each

 

[On Puget Sound]

Both my groups use point buy as written; until I know the system better I want to keep things balanced as designed. However, I have come up with a method that provides a bit of randomness within that structure:

I roll 4d6, record the result and also record what it would cost to buy that stat. (If the roll is less than 8 I change it to 8; if I already have an 8 or 9, I change it to 10). I repeat until either I reach 22 points of cost, or have 5 stats. Then the 6th stat is automatically whatever would make the cost total 22. Arrange as desired. This keeps things from being quite as cookie-cutter. I do this for my own characters, just for fun, but I don't impose it on my players.

 

[galaga88]

We use the default array. All the players feel it's a fair enough spread, and it's pretty close to how they were going to distribute points anyways.

 

[redrover]

An Interesting House Rule

Attributes are determined by their modifier total, as follows:

The DM picks the number of modifier bonuses each player has (for example, +5).

This is the sum of the attribute modifier bonuses for the six basic attributes (the PH suggests a range of +4 to +8 -- the key is for this number to be the same for every player).

Players assign their own base attributes subject to the following rules--

1. Exactly two attributes are odd, the rest are even.
2. No more than two attributes can be assigned the same number.
3. The highest base attribute for a 1st-level character before racial adjustment is 18, the lowest is 6*.


A general recommendation is that two scores of 15 or higher plays best, but this is not a requirement.

In general, a modifier total of +4 to +6 tends to force players to take at least one modifier penalty to build their stronger attributes. A more “heroic” campaign might be pegged around +7-8.

(* This is a bit of a nod to the 1st Ed. AD&D minimums. The DM is encouraged require a player to seek special permission for a minimum as low as 3. In local house-speak, this means the first player to request it gets it, and nobody else gets permission until the DM evaluates its impact on play.)

 

[The Human Target]

Standard array.

It lacks the incredible randomness/unfairness of rolling and you end up with something close to what point buy would get you anyway.

I've had some player complaints (from people who usually ended up with super amazing stats or players who value tradition), but its not become a huge issue as I instituted a standard array towards the end of our 3.5 play.

 

[Jack99]

Standard array. No complaints yet from players.