Character Creation for a new campaign [Archive] - Wizards Community

Character Creation for a new campaign [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
storm_wolf
12-12-06, 10:59 PM So, I was thinking about changing the character creation guidelines for the next campaign I am starting.

In my previous campaigns, I always just allowed the PC's to choose their Character's stats based on their conceptions (base stats before race was figured in), and with the group I played with, they were all good about not "conceptualizing" straight 18 +/- racial bonuses. All PC's started with full hit points for first level, and could take either 1 less than max hit points when they gain a new level, or roll (which amazingly enough, no one ever rolled :rolleyes:).

For my next campaign, I am going to keep the hit point rules, but instead of picking stats and then applying racial effects, they will roll 3d6, drop the lowest, and add 6 to the remainder (minimum 8, average 12-13 for stats) before racial effects.

Another important note, I use the same rules for creating the BBEG, mini-bosses, and other plot-important NPC's. I also tend to make the encounters harder to make up for the higher power level. Most of the adventures/encounters will be more plot/roleplaying based and less combat based (well, by less I mean less often, but more dangerous).

I don't want to get too in to the campaign, but it begins with the PC's being residents/members/associated with a town that was taken over several decades ago by a Red Dragon. The dragon took many of the townsfolk when he established power, in theory as hostages. The Dragon was unkind to the town while establishing power, but relatively benevolent after the first few years, primarily ignoring the people as long as the tribute was paid (money, slaves, etc...). Over the last two decades, more and more half-red dragons have been appearing out of the mountain, being unfriendly, but not overtly violent to the people. The town needs heroes, and it is the PC's that get to be the ones in power (hence the higher-power level).

The BBEG will be the Red Dragon (either Adult or Old, depending on how things go)
The mini-bosses will be either Half-Red Dragon/Humans, or Human colaberators
Most of the plot-important NPC's will be either Half-Red Dragon/Humans, or humans

So, lastly, do you think the PC creation guidelines will be enough to provide a reasonable espectation of living, or will they not be tough enough?
Board_Rider
12-12-06, 11:08 PM I think that the generation is solid and the PCs should survive if they are smart and play intelligently. Same with any group....doesn't matter the stats.
Mitchell
12-13-06, 05:33 AM Clarification, please... Are you saying that you are going to give them best two out of three dice and add 6 to those two? I think you will find your average higher than you say, if that is the case (a low average of 3, 3, and 4 becomes a 13, a high average of 3, 4, and 4 becomes a 14, but that assumes all the numbers are in the middle, and a 6, 4, and 1 is also a high average roll, but that becomes a 16. Anyway, the lowest possible will be an 8, and that is only if you roll three ones (1:216 chance), while an 18 is only going to require two sixes (1:36 chance).
Anyway, their survival rate is based on far more than their stats. I can't really say one way or the other what their chances are of that. :cool:
Fraser1986
12-14-06, 05:49 PM as the previous poster said, the avarage is higher than 13, due to keeping the 2 highest roles. The odds of getting an 18 are better than 1 in 36 though as you only need to roll 6's on two out of the three dice. i think it works out at 1 in 12.

This is because there are 216 possible combinations of 3 dice, and 18 of them involve 2 or more 6's.

So that should see your characters with pretty decent stats. Also, the chances of getting under a 10 are very low.
UAMDB
12-14-06, 05:57 PM The odds of getting an 18 is better then 1:36 but worst than 1:12. I dont have time to figure it out but your logic is correct.
Mitchell
12-15-06, 05:13 AM Yeah, my odds were off, as I was just calculating 2d6 becoming a 12. :cool:
Anyway, the point stands, but until the OP returns to comment, I think this thread is dead. :)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
storm_wolf 12-12-06, 10:59 PM	So, I was thinking about changing the character creation guidelines for the next campaign I am starting. In my previous campaigns, I always just allowed the PC's to choose their Character's stats based on their conceptions (base stats before race was figured in), and with the group I played with, they were all good about not "conceptualizing" straight 18 +/- racial bonuses. All PC's started with full hit points for first level, and could take either 1 less than max hit points when they gain a new level, or roll (which amazingly enough, no one ever rolled :rolleyes:). For my next campaign, I am going to keep the hit point rules, but instead of picking stats and then applying racial effects, they will roll 3d6, drop the lowest, and add 6 to the remainder (minimum 8, average 12-13 for stats) before racial effects. Another important note, I use the same rules for creating the BBEG, mini-bosses, and other plot-important NPC's. I also tend to make the encounters harder to make up for the higher power level. Most of the adventures/encounters will be more plot/roleplaying based and less combat based (well, by less I mean less often, but more dangerous). I don't want to get too in to the campaign, but it begins with the PC's being residents/members/associated with a town that was taken over several decades ago by a Red Dragon. The dragon took many of the townsfolk when he established power, in theory as hostages. The Dragon was unkind to the town while establishing power, but relatively benevolent after the first few years, primarily ignoring the people as long as the tribute was paid (money, slaves, etc...). Over the last two decades, more and more half-red dragons have been appearing out of the mountain, being unfriendly, but not overtly violent to the people. The town needs heroes, and it is the PC's that get to be the ones in power (hence the higher-power level). The BBEG will be the Red Dragon (either Adult or Old, depending on how things go) The mini-bosses will be either Half-Red Dragon/Humans, or Human colaberators Most of the plot-important NPC's will be either Half-Red Dragon/Humans, or humans So, lastly, do you think the PC creation guidelines will be enough to provide a reasonable espectation of living, or will they not be tough enough?
Board_Rider 12-12-06, 11:08 PM	I think that the generation is solid and the PCs should survive if they are smart and play intelligently. Same with any group....doesn't matter the stats.
Mitchell 12-13-06, 05:33 AM	Clarification, please... Are you saying that you are going to give them best two out of three dice and add 6 to those two? I think you will find your average higher than you say, if that is the case (a low average of 3, 3, and 4 becomes a 13, a high average of 3, 4, and 4 becomes a 14, but that assumes all the numbers are in the middle, and a 6, 4, and 1 is also a high average roll, but that becomes a 16. Anyway, the lowest possible will be an 8, and that is only if you roll three ones (1:216 chance), while an 18 is only going to require two sixes (1:36 chance). Anyway, their survival rate is based on far more than their stats. I can't really say one way or the other what their chances are of that. :cool:
Fraser1986 12-14-06, 05:49 PM	as the previous poster said, the avarage is higher than 13, due to keeping the 2 highest roles. The odds of getting an 18 are better than 1 in 36 though as you only need to roll 6's on two out of the three dice. i think it works out at 1 in 12. This is because there are 216 possible combinations of 3 dice, and 18 of them involve 2 or more 6's. So that should see your characters with pretty decent stats. Also, the chances of getting under a 10 are very low.
UAMDB 12-14-06, 05:57 PM	The odds of getting an 18 is better then 1:36 but worst than 1:12. I dont have time to figure it out but your logic is correct.
Mitchell 12-15-06, 05:13 AM	Yeah, my odds were off, as I was just calculating 2d6 becoming a 12. :cool: Anyway, the point stands, but until the OP returns to comment, I think this thread is dead. :)