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<blockquote data-quote="TheCosmicKid" data-source="post: 7137925" data-attributes="member: 6683613">No, you were perfectly clear, you were simply off base. No need for such a patronizing apology, although a more sincere one might be in order.I can't help but notice that you cut off the sentence after two words rather than acknowledge that the writers very explicitly had in mind people who &quot;don't like the idea of randomly determining ability scores&quot;. But that's not really the important thing. You did quote the important thing: the word &quot;you&quot;. Have you realized what this paragraph is actually saying? It's addressing the player, not the DM. The writers didn't just have in mind players who don't like random scores: the rules as written, the &quot;default&quot; which seems to be so important to you, clearly state that the decision to roll ability scores or use the standard array is in the individual player's hands.Don't buy that? Go down a couple of paragraphs: &quot;Bob decides to use the standard set of scores (15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8) for Bruenor's abilities.&quot; Bob is Bruenor's player, not the DM. Only when it gets to describing the point buy method does it use language to the effect of &quot;At your Dungeon Master's option, you can use this variant for determining your ability scores.&quot; The PHB really is quite explicit about what's default and what's a variant. And the standard array is definitely not a variant.Okay. I personally feel the same way. That doesn't mean shunning the standard array is better for everyone, just better for us. It doesn't mean we're not failing as DMs if we require players to use the method that suits our preferences rather than the one that suits theirs. And it certainly has nothing to do with whether the PHB supports players having this choice.My compliments to the lexicographer for recognizing and capturing the varied usage of the word. What's your point?</blockquote>

[QUOTE="TheCosmicKid, post: 7137925, member: 6683613"] No, you were perfectly clear, you were simply off base. No need for such a patronizing apology, although a more sincere one might be in order. I can't help but notice that you cut off the sentence after two words rather than acknowledge that the writers very explicitly had in mind people who [I]"don't like the idea of randomly determining ability scores"[/I]. But that's not really the important thing. You did quote the important thing: the word [I]"you"[/I]. Have you realized what this paragraph is actually saying? It's addressing the player, not the DM. The writers didn't just have in mind players who don't like random scores: the rules as written, the "default" which seems to be so important to you, clearly state that [B]the decision to roll ability scores or use the standard array is in the individual player's hands[/B]. Don't buy that? Go down a couple of paragraphs: [I]"Bob decides to use the standard set of scores (15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8) for Bruenor's abilities."[/I] Bob is Bruenor's player, not the DM. Only when it gets to describing the point buy method does it use language to the effect of [I]"At your Dungeon Master's option, you can use this variant for determining your ability scores."[/I] The PHB really is quite explicit about what's default and what's a variant. And the standard array is definitely not a variant. Okay. I personally feel the same way. That doesn't mean shunning the standard array is better for everyone, just better for us. It doesn't mean we're not failing as DMs if we require players to use the method that suits [I]our[/I] preferences rather than the one that suits [I]theirs[/I]. And it certainly has nothing to do with whether the PHB supports players having this choice. My compliments to the lexicographer for recognizing and capturing the varied usage of the word. What's your point? [/QUOTE]

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