Ability Score selection [Archive] - Wizards Community

Ability Score selection [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Bushmen
11-07-06, 04:18 PM My Dm will allow us to either roll 4d6 and rerole 1's pick the best 3 or role 5d6 pick the best 3.

Could some of you math experts tell me which is the better format for maxium stats?
Seeker of Truth
11-07-06, 04:24 PM for the first method if you re-roll a 1 and get another 1 can you re-roll it?

How do you want the stats valued? Should the be converted into point buy equivalent so an 18 and a 10 would be more valuable than a 14 and a 15 or just flat stat buy?

Also I doubt it would make a difference, but are you using the rule for hopeless characters provided in the DMG?

With all the info it wouldn't take me long to get you an answer.
Seeker of Truth
11-07-06, 05:16 PM If only one re-roll is allowed the average agility score is better with the 5d6 method. This isn't weighting the value of ability scores so that extreme values are worth more.
Bushmen
11-07-06, 07:05 PM you re-roll all 1's

Thanks for helping the math handicaped
dokesa
11-08-06, 04:29 PM I've done the grunt work for 5d6, and I can alter the 4d6 data. I'll get back to you tomorrow.
Cael
11-08-06, 04:31 PM Hmm... On the same line of topic: Would it be OK to substitute the 4d6-l method for 10+d8 for a higher than standard power level, low magic campaign? The average of the latter is about 14.5, which is slightly better than the 4d6-l's 13 or so.
Nathreet
11-08-06, 08:14 PM Very interesting...
This is either quite a coincidence or you have one smart DM.
On average you roll 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 either way. Rolling 5 yields slightly higher high rolls and slightly lower low rolls. I'd say this method has the edge.
10+1d8 yields 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 on average. No surprise there.

Averages of 60,000 rolls (for each case)
Roll 4, reroll 1's, best 3: 10.3, 11.9, 13.0, 14.0, 15.0, 16.3 (13.42 avg)
Roll 5, best 3: 9.9, 11.8, 13.0, 14.1, 15.2, 16.4 (13.43 avg)
10 + 1d8: 11.7, 12.8, 13.9, 15.1, 16.2, 17.3 (14.50 avg)
6 + 1d12: 8.3, 9.9, 11.6, 13.3, 15.0, 16.7 (12.50 avg)
1d20, reroll 1's and 2's: 5.1, 7.6, 10.2, 12.8, 15.3, 17.9 (avg 11.5)
Cael
11-08-06, 08:45 PM Very interesting...
This is either quite a coincidence or you have one smart DM.
On average you roll 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 either way. Rolling 5 yields slightly higher high rolls and slightly lower low rolls. I'd say this method has the edge.
10+1d8 yields 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 on average. No surprise there.

Averages of 60,000 rolls (for each case)
Roll 4, reroll 1's, best 3: 10.3, 11.9, 13.0, 14.0, 15.0, 16.3 (13.42 avg)
Roll 5, best 3: 9.9, 11.8, 13.0, 14.1, 15.2, 16.4 (13.43 avg)
10 + 1d8:11.7, 12.8, 13.9, 15.1, 16.2, 17.3 (14.50 avg)
Thanks, Nathreet. I will implement the 10+1d8 method in my next campaign. It will be very low magic, so that should give the PCs the edge they would need to overcome some of the monsters they'll be meeting... Hopefully...
dokesa
11-09-06, 10:24 AM 5d6
mean: 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17 (36 points)
median: 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17 (38 points)
mode: 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17 (37 points)

4d6'
mean: 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 (35 points)
median: 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17 (38 points)
mode: 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17 (38 points)

They're about the same. I'd probably go for 5d6 because the lowest stat is a dump stat anyway.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Bushmen 11-07-06, 04:18 PM	My Dm will allow us to either roll 4d6 and rerole 1's pick the best 3 or role 5d6 pick the best 3. Could some of you math experts tell me which is the better format for maxium stats?
Seeker of Truth 11-07-06, 04:24 PM	for the first method if you re-roll a 1 and get another 1 can you re-roll it? How do you want the stats valued? Should the be converted into point buy equivalent so an 18 and a 10 would be more valuable than a 14 and a 15 or just flat stat buy? Also I doubt it would make a difference, but are you using the rule for hopeless characters provided in the DMG? With all the info it wouldn't take me long to get you an answer.
Seeker of Truth 11-07-06, 05:16 PM	If only one re-roll is allowed the average agility score is better with the 5d6 method. This isn't weighting the value of ability scores so that extreme values are worth more.
Bushmen 11-07-06, 07:05 PM	you re-roll all 1's Thanks for helping the math handicaped
dokesa 11-08-06, 04:29 PM	I've done the grunt work for 5d6, and I can alter the 4d6 data. I'll get back to you tomorrow.
Cael 11-08-06, 04:31 PM	Hmm... On the same line of topic: Would it be OK to substitute the 4d6-l method for 10+d8 for a higher than standard power level, low magic campaign? The average of the latter is about 14.5, which is slightly better than the 4d6-l's 13 or so.
Nathreet 11-08-06, 08:14 PM	Very interesting... This is either quite a coincidence or you have one smart DM. On average you roll 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 either way. Rolling 5 yields slightly higher high rolls and slightly lower low rolls. I'd say this method has the edge. 10+1d8 yields 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 on average. No surprise there. Averages of 60,000 rolls (for each case) Roll 4, reroll 1's, best 3: 10.3, 11.9, 13.0, 14.0, 15.0, 16.3 (13.42 avg) Roll 5, best 3: 9.9, 11.8, 13.0, 14.1, 15.2, 16.4 (13.43 avg) 10 + 1d8: 11.7, 12.8, 13.9, 15.1, 16.2, 17.3 (14.50 avg) 6 + 1d12: 8.3, 9.9, 11.6, 13.3, 15.0, 16.7 (12.50 avg) 1d20, reroll 1's and 2's: 5.1, 7.6, 10.2, 12.8, 15.3, 17.9 (avg 11.5)
Cael 11-08-06, 08:45 PM	Very interesting... This is either quite a coincidence or you have one smart DM. On average you roll 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 either way. Rolling 5 yields slightly higher high rolls and slightly lower low rolls. I'd say this method has the edge. 10+1d8 yields 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 on average. No surprise there. Averages of 60,000 rolls (for each case) Roll 4, reroll 1's, best 3: 10.3, 11.9, 13.0, 14.0, 15.0, 16.3 (13.42 avg) Roll 5, best 3: 9.9, 11.8, 13.0, 14.1, 15.2, 16.4 (13.43 avg) 10 + 1d8:11.7, 12.8, 13.9, 15.1, 16.2, 17.3 (14.50 avg) Thanks, Nathreet. I will implement the 10+1d8 method in my next campaign. It will be very low magic, so that should give the PCs the edge they would need to overcome some of the monsters they'll be meeting... Hopefully...
dokesa 11-09-06, 10:24 AM	5d6 mean: 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17 (36 points) median: 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17 (38 points) mode: 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17 (37 points) 4d6' mean: 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 (35 points) median: 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17 (38 points) mode: 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17 (38 points) They're about the same. I'd probably go for 5d6 because the lowest stat is a dump stat anyway.