getting abilities [Archive] - Wizards Community

getting abilities [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
greentiger
12-23-03, 05:58 PM what other ways are there of getting ability scores besides 4d6 - lowest x 6?
DM Zoc
12-23-03, 06:20 PM 4d4 +4 (for each stat, in order or arranged to taste)
5d4 (for each stat, in order or arranged to taste)
75-point (to split among all stats)
d20 (for each stat, in order or arranged to taste)
2d10 (for each stat, in order or arranged to taste)

"Within Reason" system (anything that doesn't raise suspicions)
Bacon and Eggs
12-23-03, 06:23 PM Put 10's on everything.

It saves on doing all of that nasty math
Mitchell
12-24-03, 02:15 AM 1) For each stat roll 3d6 3x, either place in order or arrange to taste
2) 18-24d6, player pulls 3 for each stat (will lead to high and low stats)
3) Stat assignment; You determine 6 set numbers, then let the players assign them to the stats that they want to
4) Total bonus; Give the players a total bonus number that their combined stats cannot exceed. They will all want odd numbers, so you may limit them to three (or whatever)

Lots of ways, you just have to figure out how powerful you want the players to be.
Lady Mia
12-24-03, 04:04 AM 3 other methods supported by the rules are:

Organic: 4d6 drop the lowest (placed in the order you roll them) but you get to reroll one stat and you can swap one stat.

Point Buy: Use the tables in the DMG and and give everyone a set number of points to spend depending on the level of stats you want. (they give suggestions)

Default Array: Assign everyone a set of numbers to place where they want.
bolobaby
12-24-03, 04:49 AM For extremely mature groups: assign your own stats. Just pick and assign. Tends to work in mature groups because no one wants to be "that guy" - i.e. the cheese-boy who picked all ridiculously high stats.

My favorite method for heroic campaigns: 4d6 drop the lowest die done 7 times, drop the lowest stat, arranged as the player sees fit.

As DM, I always required that all die rolling methods be done in front of me - no exceptions.
greentiger
12-24-03, 12:31 PM well see, im trying to find a way for my dm to let me get stats. i always roll bad organic stats. im leaning towards the pick your own stats thing. hows this? 18, 17, 15, 13, 11, and 9? then add in racial bonuses and that sounds good doesnt it?
Mitchell
12-25-03, 12:33 AM Originally posted by greentiger
well see, im trying to find a way for my dm to let me get stats. i always roll bad organic stats. im leaning towards the pick your own stats thing. hows this? 18, 17, 15, 13, 11, and 9? then add in racial bonuses and that sounds good doesnt it?

Not terrible, it depends on what everyone else in the game looks like stat-wise. I do notice that you went with all those odd numbers, though. This puts you one stat raise from the next bonus. I would say 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8. Your initial bonuses and penalties are the same, but it will be a bit more difficult to improve your bonuses, or alternately 18, 16, 13, 11, 10, 9. Two good upper end, two middle stats upgraded with one point, one low average, and one below average that can, again, be brought up with a single point.
Like I said, it depends on what everyone else has for stats. Not fair to penalize you if they are all high end, but not fair to just give you better numbers either.
Edymnion
12-25-03, 02:12 PM Originally posted by greentiger
what other ways are there of getting ability scores besides 4d6 - lowest x 6? Point Buy is my preferred method of stat generation, usually a 30-32 point system. Lets you get exactly the stats you want, and makes sure everybody is even in attribute strengths.

If you just like the randomness of rolling dice, I prefer 6+2d6 for each stat myself. Garuntees you that no stat will be below an 8, and comes out with the same average score as 4d6 drop lowest (aka a 13 in every stat), and is also the equivolent of a 30 point buy.

Those are the two methods I prefer, anyway. 30-32 point buy and 6+2d6, assign as desired.
greentiger
12-25-03, 03:06 PM how do you do a 32 point buy? 32 points would give you a 5.something in each stat
Winternova
12-25-03, 03:44 PM point buy is a little different than just placing stat points - you start with 8s, and the cost to buy each stat varies - it's 1 for 1 until about 15, i think. 18s are spendy as hell. Now, the d20m book suggests that you start with a 25 point buy system, but one of my players ("That guy" as was stated in a previous reply) went off on it, so we upped it to 32.

One of my DMs just gave us 85 stat points (which works out to all 14s and some change, i think) and awarded us experience points for unused points, and negative modifiers. You can't really be "That Guy" with this system, but you can get close, and you'll have fun at level 1 while the pipsqueak halfling with low str and cha will be at level 3.
Edymnion
12-25-03, 07:10 PM Originally posted by Winternova
point buy is a little different than just placing stat points - you start with 8s, and the cost to buy each stat varies - it's 1 for 1 until about 15, i think. 18s are spendy as hell. Now, the d20m book suggests that you start with a 25 point buy system, but one of my players ("That guy" as was stated in a previous reply) went off on it, so we upped it to 32. Point buy is in the DMG, ask your DM about it.
Its not in the SRD, so it isn't open source, so I don't think we're allowed to post it all up.

But essentially, all stats start at 8, and you spend a number of points to buy higher stats. Up to a 14 is bought on a one for one basis. After that, it starts costing you 2 points for every increase, then three, etc.

Its quite good, lets you assign stats based on character concept, not the other way around, and is the method I prefer to use when I can.
However, 25 point buy is unfairly low. 4d6 drop lowest gives the greatest probability of rolling a 13 for any given stat. Straight 13's is equal to a 30 point buy. So 28 point buy for a slightly weaker game, 30 to be even with 4d6 drop lowest, 32 point buy for more heroic characters.
Dragoninawheelchair
12-25-03, 07:19 PM Originally posted by greentiger
well see, im trying to find a way for my dm to let me get stats. i always roll bad organic stats. im leaning towards the pick your own stats thing. hows this? 18, 17, 15, 13, 11, and 9? then add in racial bonuses and that sounds good doesnt it?

Well if you got those stats through point buy you would be spending 46 points (I don't have my DMG in front of me so I might be wrong).

To get a bunch of above average stats you have to be able to roll well.
wdarkk
12-25-03, 09:53 PM I always liked 30-32 point buy.

Of course, I was brought to PnP by Neverwinter Nights...
SnowbearK
12-26-03, 05:20 AM Give yourself all 18s.

If your DM asks, tell him to got to hell and say hi for me...

:D

Seriously though, suggest point buy, you really can't go wrong and your DM can't complain about being overpowered if everyone has the same scores (essentially).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
greentiger 12-23-03, 05:58 PM	what other ways are there of getting ability scores besides 4d6 - lowest x 6?
DM Zoc 12-23-03, 06:20 PM	4d4 +4 (for each stat, in order or arranged to taste) 5d4 (for each stat, in order or arranged to taste) 75-point (to split among all stats) d20 (for each stat, in order or arranged to taste) 2d10 (for each stat, in order or arranged to taste) "Within Reason" system (anything that doesn't raise suspicions)
Bacon and Eggs 12-23-03, 06:23 PM	Put 10's on everything. It saves on doing all of that nasty math
Mitchell 12-24-03, 02:15 AM	1) For each stat roll 3d6 3x, either place in order or arrange to taste 2) 18-24d6, player pulls 3 for each stat (will lead to high and low stats) 3) Stat assignment; You determine 6 set numbers, then let the players assign them to the stats that they want to 4) Total bonus; Give the players a total bonus number that their combined stats cannot exceed. They will all want odd numbers, so you may limit them to three (or whatever) Lots of ways, you just have to figure out how powerful you want the players to be.
Lady Mia 12-24-03, 04:04 AM	3 other methods supported by the rules are: Organic: 4d6 drop the lowest (placed in the order you roll them) but you get to reroll one stat and you can swap one stat. Point Buy: Use the tables in the DMG and and give everyone a set number of points to spend depending on the level of stats you want. (they give suggestions) Default Array: Assign everyone a set of numbers to place where they want.
bolobaby 12-24-03, 04:49 AM	For extremely mature groups: assign your own stats. Just pick and assign. Tends to work in mature groups because no one wants to be "that guy" - i.e. the cheese-boy who picked all ridiculously high stats. My favorite method for heroic campaigns: 4d6 drop the lowest die done 7 times, drop the lowest stat, arranged as the player sees fit. As DM, I always required that all die rolling methods be done in front of me - no exceptions.
greentiger 12-24-03, 12:31 PM	well see, im trying to find a way for my dm to let me get stats. i always roll bad organic stats. im leaning towards the pick your own stats thing. hows this? 18, 17, 15, 13, 11, and 9? then add in racial bonuses and that sounds good doesnt it?
Mitchell 12-25-03, 12:33 AM	Originally posted by greentiger well see, im trying to find a way for my dm to let me get stats. i always roll bad organic stats. im leaning towards the pick your own stats thing. hows this? 18, 17, 15, 13, 11, and 9? then add in racial bonuses and that sounds good doesnt it? Not terrible, it depends on what everyone else in the game looks like stat-wise. I do notice that you went with all those odd numbers, though. This puts you one stat raise from the next bonus. I would say 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8. Your initial bonuses and penalties are the same, but it will be a bit more difficult to improve your bonuses, or alternately 18, 16, 13, 11, 10, 9. Two good upper end, two middle stats upgraded with one point, one low average, and one below average that can, again, be brought up with a single point. Like I said, it depends on what everyone else has for stats. Not fair to penalize you if they are all high end, but not fair to just give you better numbers either.
Edymnion 12-25-03, 02:12 PM	Originally posted by greentiger what other ways are there of getting ability scores besides 4d6 - lowest x 6? Point Buy is my preferred method of stat generation, usually a 30-32 point system. Lets you get exactly the stats you want, and makes sure everybody is even in attribute strengths. If you just like the randomness of rolling dice, I prefer 6+2d6 for each stat myself. Garuntees you that no stat will be below an 8, and comes out with the same average score as 4d6 drop lowest (aka a 13 in every stat), and is also the equivolent of a 30 point buy. Those are the two methods I prefer, anyway. 30-32 point buy and 6+2d6, assign as desired.
greentiger 12-25-03, 03:06 PM	how do you do a 32 point buy? 32 points would give you a 5.something in each stat
Winternova 12-25-03, 03:44 PM	point buy is a little different than just placing stat points - you start with 8s, and the cost to buy each stat varies - it's 1 for 1 until about 15, i think. 18s are spendy as hell. Now, the d20m book suggests that you start with a 25 point buy system, but one of my players ("That guy" as was stated in a previous reply) went off on it, so we upped it to 32. One of my DMs just gave us 85 stat points (which works out to all 14s and some change, i think) and awarded us experience points for unused points, and negative modifiers. You can't really be "That Guy" with this system, but you can get close, and you'll have fun at level 1 while the pipsqueak halfling with low str and cha will be at level 3.
Edymnion 12-25-03, 07:10 PM	Originally posted by Winternova point buy is a little different than just placing stat points - you start with 8s, and the cost to buy each stat varies - it's 1 for 1 until about 15, i think. 18s are spendy as hell. Now, the d20m book suggests that you start with a 25 point buy system, but one of my players ("That guy" as was stated in a previous reply) went off on it, so we upped it to 32. Point buy is in the DMG, ask your DM about it. Its not in the SRD, so it isn't open source, so I don't think we're allowed to post it all up. But essentially, all stats start at 8, and you spend a number of points to buy higher stats. Up to a 14 is bought on a one for one basis. After that, it starts costing you 2 points for every increase, then three, etc. Its quite good, lets you assign stats based on character concept, not the other way around, and is the method I prefer to use when I can. However, 25 point buy is unfairly low. 4d6 drop lowest gives the greatest probability of rolling a 13 for any given stat. Straight 13's is equal to a 30 point buy. So 28 point buy for a slightly weaker game, 30 to be even with 4d6 drop lowest, 32 point buy for more heroic characters.
Dragoninawheelchair 12-25-03, 07:19 PM	Originally posted by greentiger well see, im trying to find a way for my dm to let me get stats. i always roll bad organic stats. im leaning towards the pick your own stats thing. hows this? 18, 17, 15, 13, 11, and 9? then add in racial bonuses and that sounds good doesnt it? Well if you got those stats through point buy you would be spending 46 points (I don't have my DMG in front of me so I might be wrong). To get a bunch of above average stats you have to be able to roll well.
wdarkk 12-25-03, 09:53 PM	I always liked 30-32 point buy. Of course, I was brought to PnP by Neverwinter Nights...
SnowbearK 12-26-03, 05:20 AM	Give yourself all 18s. If your DM asks, tell him to got to hell and say hi for me... :D Seriously though, suggest point buy, you really can't go wrong and your DM can't complain about being overpowered if everyone has the same scores (essentially).