Quote from: Exploderwizard;837785http://www.shapeways.com/product/PVUQUW9UA/16-sided-die-octagonal-bipyramid-d16?li=shop-results&optionId=9264084

Here is a blank D16 you can get and number as desired. You could make a statistic rolling die with this.

Neat!  I wonder if I could get it custom pre-printed 3-18...

Forget who, but someone way way back who hated the bell curve presented this idea.

Roll a d20 and re-roll any results of 1-2 or 19-20

Quote from: Omega;837845Forget who, but someone way way back who hated the bell curve presented this idea.

Roll a d20 and re-roll any results of 1-2 or 19-20

I hate the bell curve. Grrr. It's too damn... curvy!

Quote from: JoeNuttall;837855I hate the bell curve. Grrr. It's too damn... curvy!

Originally I did not understand the bell curve at all. But once it clicked I saw its uses and how many game designs take it into account. It creats characters that are usually about average for a portion of their stats, and over and under for a few, and exceptional (good or bad) at maybe one or two.

It gives you some control over the random where as a flat rate is pure chaos. Which can actually be not all that fun or interesting sometimes.

3 rolls using that d20 method.
14, 11, 3, 17, 16, 18.
7, 16, 8, 10, 12, 4.
3, 13, 16, 4, 12, 4

Quote from: Omega;837880Originally I did not understand the bell curve at all. But once it clicked I saw its uses and how many game designs take it into account. It creats characters that are usually about average for a portion of their stats, and over and under for a few, and exceptional (good or bad) at maybe one or two.

It gives you some control over the random where as a flat rate is pure chaos. Which can actually be not all that fun or interesting sometimes.

3 rolls using that d20 method.
14, 11, 3, 17, 16, 18.
7, 16, 8, 10, 12, 4.
3, 13, 16, 4, 12, 4

"Reality" woudl indeed suggest that most people were average at most things.

However you could also easily argue that "reality" suggests that explorers adventures and the type tend to be above average ant most things.

If you look at
i) Richard Burton (the explorer not the actor)
A British explorer, geographer, translator, writer, soldier, orientalist, cartographer, ethnologist, spy, linguist, poet, fencer, and diplomat. Founhded the Anthopological Society in London, translated the Karma Sutra, as a Captain in the East India Company he was a skilled figther and horseman.

ii) Robert Falcon Scott (...of the Antarctic..)
High Flying Naval Officer, first class honors across his training, Leader, charmer with the ladies, incredible stamina etc.

likewise Marco Polo, John Murray, Captain Cook etc etc ...

In fiction this is even more common of course.

Quote from: Omega;837880It gives you some control over the random where as a flat rate is pure chaos. Which can actually be not all that fun or interesting sometimes.

3 rolls using that d20 method.
14, 11, 3, 17, 16, 18.
7, 16, 8, 10, 12, 4.
3, 13, 16, 4, 12, 4

Dwarf Fortress!

Stark Raving Mad Dwarf goes Berserk!
Mt. Dwarf Barbarian Acolyte
Lv 3. PB +2. AC 15 (17 w/ shield). HD d12. HP 38.

STR 15 (+2), DEX 12 (+1), CON 18 (+4), INT 4 (-3), WIS 3 (-4), CHA 4 (-3)

"Totem pole animals in wrong order! In wrong order!"...

Quote from: jibbajibba;837914"Reality" woudl indeed suggest that most people were average at most things.

However you could also easily argue that "reality" suggests that explorers adventures and the type tend to be above average ant most things.

I an certainly not arguing for "reality".

The bell curve just makes the outliers more special and characters less wildly swingy.

It also maps to the games base idea that most people will be "kinda almost maybe average", and probably excel at one or two things and possibly not at something. It was Gygax who explained that one.

I am guessing that plays back into the OD&D or Chainmail iterations where the henchmen, followers and occasional NPC were also the players pool of potential back-up characters?

To answer the OP, rolling is the only way I think is right.  Point-buy sucks.

Quote from: RPGPundit;838022To answer the OP, rolling is the only way I think is right.  Point-buy sucks.

Depends on the point buy. 5es point buy I actually like as it caps at 15. With the default at a minimum of 8. 27 points to spend with the cost rising as you get near 15. Definitely leaves space to grow into.

Quote from: Omega;838027Depends on the point buy. 5es point buy I actually like as it caps at 15. With the default at a minimum of 8. 27 points to spend with the cost rising as you get near 15. Definitely leaves space to grow into.

I still like random generation a lot more, for a variety of reasons; first and foremost specifically because you don't get to pick and choose what your character looks like.