Character Generation: Do you prefer 3d6, 4d6, Straight Down, Arrange to Taste?

Pat · July 05, 2021, 11:31:43 AM

Quote from: Slambo on July 05, 2021, 11:12:32 AM
Quote from: mightybrain on July 05, 2021, 02:43:48 AM
Quote from: Slambo on July 04, 2021, 10:15:37 PM
The absoukte best roll ive seen a player get was 4 18s and 2 17s, and whats crazy is she's dine this twice, only the 2nd time one if the 17s was a 16.

Was that with 4d6 drop the lowest, or 3d6?

I think the highest I've seen is one 18 and one 17. And I thought that was pretty lucky even with 4d6 and drop the lowest.

Its been a while but i think it was 4d6 drop lowest. Though...she did 3d6 in order for out swords and wizardry game and her lowest stat there are really good and those were digital dice. I think she's just lucky.

4 18s and 2 17s isn't just lucky, it's the third best of all possible rolls. That's Teela Brown lucky.

Chris24601 · July 05, 2021, 11:51:01 AM

Best I ever scored on 3d6 in order back in the day was a human fighter with Str 17, Dex 18, Con 16, Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 16.

I could have gone thief I suppose, but the better armor and hit points (I believe I had AC 0 [chain+shield] and 11 hp out of the box) were worth it... they let the PC survive the early levels and they eventually found some gauntlets of ogre power which gave me the 18/00 Strength anyway.

Jam The MF · July 07, 2021, 10:33:21 PM

I've been rolling stats a lot. Finally rolled a character set with 92 total points; using 4d6, and drop the lowest. Straight down the line:

Str 15
Dex 17
Con 15
Int. 13
Wis 15
Cha 17

Two +3's, Three +2's, and a +1. Man, that's stout!!!

Kyle Aaron · July 07, 2021, 10:39:39 PM

Quote from: Chris24601 on July 05, 2021, 11:51:01 AM
Best I ever scored on 3d6 in order back in the day was a human fighter with Str 17, Dex 18, Con 16, Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 16.

Studies on penis size have noted that penises measured by their owners at home are always larger than penises measured in the lab.

It's amazing how well people roll when nobody's looking.

Shasarak · July 07, 2021, 11:33:46 PM

You should probably get better looking lab techs.

Just saying.

Sellsword · July 08, 2021, 05:44:15 AM

Has always been point buy for me. Easier to make builds that way and when the entire group uses point buy or standard array it becomes easier for the DM to design encounters and what not. If I am not mistaken some systems balance their monsters based on standard array and point buy characters.

mightybrain · July 08, 2021, 08:50:22 AM

When I first encountered point buy I thought it was a great idea, since all characters would be balanced with each other and with the monsters. However, after playing for a while, it turned out that balance made for a more predictable and dull game.

mightybrain · July 08, 2021, 08:52:58 AM

Those who've played basic... what was your typical party composition; did you mix up classes, or was every party all fighters?

Chris24601 · July 08, 2021, 09:12:48 AM

Quote from: Kyle Aaron on July 07, 2021, 10:39:39 PM
Quote from: Chris24601 on July 05, 2021, 11:51:01 AM
Best I ever scored on 3d6 in order back in the day was a human fighter with Str 17, Dex 18, Con 16, Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 16.
Studies on penis size have noted that penises measured by their owners at home are always larger than penises measured in the lab.

It's amazing how well people roll when nobody's looking.

That result was in front of the DM. It's funny that you think you're funny.

Kyle Aaron · July 08, 2021, 10:00:36 AM

We believe you, Chris.

#believeallhighrollinggamers

Bogmagog · July 08, 2021, 10:04:41 AM

3d6 in order. 4d6 in order if your soft.

It's amazing how many times people have begged me for 4d6 and just cried and cried when they still for crap scores.

Nah,3d6 in order. Love that 8 strength fighter and watch him go all the way!

Jam The MF · July 08, 2021, 11:43:24 AM

Quote from: Gameogre on July 08, 2021, 10:04:41 AM
3d6 in order. 4d6 in order if your soft.

It's amazing how many times people have begged me for 4d6 and just cried and cried when they still for crap scores.

Nah,3d6 in order. Love that 8 strength fighter and watch him go all the way!

Even with 4d6 drop the lowest, I still get some 8's and 9's. Even a 6, here recently. There are no.guarantees.

mightybrain · July 08, 2021, 06:38:59 PM

To put it in some perspective, if you roll a new character (4d6 drop the lowest) every day you'll get about one 92 point or better character per year.

With 3d6 you'll be lucky to get one in your lifetime.

That said, with either method it's possible to do it in one attempt. Possible, just not very likely.

mightybrain · July 10, 2021, 08:10:35 PM

Quote from: Gameogre on July 08, 2021, 10:04:41 AMIt's amazing how many times people have begged me for 4d6 and just cried and cried when they still for crap scores.

Yeah, I've seen a 50 year old man act like a child over bad stat rolls. It's incredible.

If you're playing basic D&D and you roll 3d6 in order, pick your race/class, and exchange ability scores to raise your prime stat(s) you have an approximately ½% chance of generating a character with a negative prime requisite experience adjustment; a 77% chance of a +5% adjustment; and a 36% chance of a +10% adjustment.

To be fair, even a ½% can represent a lot of characters when you consider millions of players. Still, in terms of the average party, you're only likely get the one no hoper, and that can still be fun to play.

Omega · July 10, 2021, 08:59:40 PM

Speaking of odd rolls.

Was making an AD&D character and got this for rolls. Used as is that would make for at least a Cleric. Not a very bright cleric but hey.
ST:7, IN:4, WS:13, DX:8, CN:10, CH:10.

If placing as desired that could make for a viable fighter, magic user, thief even. One of D&D's strengths pre-3e was that even relatively low to average stats like that still made for a playable character.

For a one off BX session I got a character with this for stats.
STR:8, INT:5, WIS:9, DEX:8, CON:9, CHA:13
Feeble Fighter was tempting. Barely Literate Elf though was too funny to pass up. We dub thee Death, the Elf!