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Rolling for Ability Scores vs. Standard Array

Started by Mistwell, June 19, 2014, 06:17:32 PM

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Marleycat

#15
June 19, 2014, 09:46:01 PM Last Edit: June 19, 2014, 09:48:41 PM by Marleycat
Quote from: dragoner;759575Same except not dropping the 1's, just 4d6 drop the lowest, put scores where you like; too much point build and it is the same every time.

Like I said that method is literally is just for me the rest of the group does 4d6-drop 1 and arrange to taste. We come out around the same.:)
Don\'t mess with cats we kill wizards in one blow.;)

BarefootGaijin

#16
June 19, 2014, 09:47:35 PM
4d6 drop the lowest and keep rolling until you get something you don't mind and isn't completely taking the piss (maybe a reasonably high roll, a few middling and a low one for example).
I play these games to be entertained... I don't want to see games about rape, sodomy and drug addiction... I can get all that at home.

dragoner

#17
June 19, 2014, 09:50:45 PM
Quote from: Marleycat;759578Like I said that method is literally is just for me the rest of the group does 4d6-drop 1 and arrange to taste. We come out around the same.:)

So then you are the lucky one?

Har har ;)
The most beautiful peonies I ever saw ... were grown in almost pure cat excrement.
-Vonnegut

Marleycat

#18
June 19, 2014, 09:54:14 PM
Quote from: dragoner;759581So then you are the lucky one?

Har har ;)

They just want to play not watch me break the laws of probability.
Don\'t mess with cats we kill wizards in one blow.;)

robiswrong

#19
June 19, 2014, 09:55:09 PM
Random works really well in old-school style D&D, where:

1) Stats aren't as important.
2) You'll probably have multiple characters, so that being weak one week is offset by playing the character with awesome stats next week.

It doesn't work nearly as well in games where the assumption is that you'll have one specific character that will be yours for the duration.

Philotomy Jurament

#20
June 19, 2014, 09:56:57 PM
Depends on the game system, but for D&D I usually prefer random rolls.  I like the "see what the dice gods give, and make something cool/interesting from it" approach.  

If I were going for more of a "envision a character and then make it so" approach, I'd lean towards just assigning appropriate ability scores, rather than using point buy or standard array.
The problem is not that power corrupts, but that the corruptible are irresistibly drawn to the pursuit of power. Tu ne cede malis, sed contra audentior ito.

dragoner

#21
June 19, 2014, 10:04:10 PM
Quote from: Marleycat;759583They just want to play not watch me break the laws of probability.

That was a pun; we did the same, the unlucky roller usually got a re-roll.
The most beautiful peonies I ever saw ... were grown in almost pure cat excrement.
-Vonnegut

Rincewind1

#22
June 19, 2014, 10:07:10 PM
Quote from: Marleycat;759583They just want to play not watch me break the laws of probability.

Not entirely on the subject, but - I admit I always give a reroll on the 1 on HP roll. If it rolls again, tough luck, but first one's free.
Furthermore, I consider that  This is Why We Don\'t Like You thread should be closed

Marleycat

#23
June 19, 2014, 10:10:09 PM
Quote from: Rincewind1;759594Not entirely on the subject, but - I admit I always give a reroll on the 1 on HP roll. If it rolls again, tough luck, but first one's free.

We do the same especially if it's 2e or older.
Don\'t mess with cats we kill wizards in one blow.;)

Marleycat

#24
June 19, 2014, 10:10:46 PM
Quote from: dragoner;759590That was a pun; we did the same, the unlucky roller usually got a re-roll.

Heh.:)
Don\'t mess with cats we kill wizards in one blow.;)

MonsterSlayer

#25
June 19, 2014, 10:14:24 PM
For 3e and 4e I like the array. Those editions revolve so much around the class building err.... I'm not even making a char op argument.  It's just that with all the skills, feats, powers, etc. I most of my group doesn't want to run a gimped character that long.

Older editions or DCC straight down the line 3d6. Streamlined rules help and you get wonderfully wacky combos.

dragoner

#26
June 19, 2014, 10:23:13 PM
Quote from: Rincewind1;759594Not entirely on the subject, but - I admit I always give a reroll on the 1 on HP roll. If it rolls again, tough luck, but first one's free.

We did 1st level gets full hp, it was easier, esp on MU's.
The most beautiful peonies I ever saw ... were grown in almost pure cat excrement.
-Vonnegut

Marleycat

#27
June 19, 2014, 10:40:25 PM
Quote from: dragoner;759600We did 1st level gets full hp, it was easier, esp on MU's.

We did that also. I really think that houserule was the reason for d6 wizards.
Don\'t mess with cats we kill wizards in one blow.;)

Brad

#28
June 19, 2014, 11:35:18 PM
Quote from: Omega;759567Not really.

With random you can get some good ideas for off the cuff characters.

With point buy you can end up with cookie cutter min-maxed or baseline walking stat blocks.

I was trying to be succinct, not necessarily accurate.

Recently, all my best characters have been randomly rolled because it forced me into playing something I normally wouldn't.  A lot of people get too caught up in playing the exact character they want, which is sort of like insisting you get the same hand every game of poker. Half the fun of rpgs is trying something new.

I will say that something like B/X is easy as f to randomly play due to the viability of a character with 9s in all abilities. 3.X, I don't care who you are, you're going to feel gypped playing a character with no attribute bonuses. So, yeah, sort of depends on the game in question.
It takes considerable knowledge just to realize the extent of your own ignorance.

Fiasco

#29
June 19, 2014, 11:45:22 PM
Quote from: BarefootGaijin;7595794d6 drop the lowest and keep rolling until you get something you don't mind and isn't completely taking the piss (maybe a reasonably high roll, a few middling and a low one for example).

That has worked pretty well for us. Arrays and point buys leave me cold.

I can live with hardcore 3d6 down the line too.
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