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subject42
2009-03-24, 09:56 PM
Warning: There is some rambling here.

As a bit of a side-project for our regular campaign my normal group is looking to move outside of our normal D&D comfort zones by running a few sessions with characters that have randomly chosen races, alignments, classes, and ability scores.

In order to see if this was viable, I decided to try a test and see what I could manage in terms of making a viable character without the normal control that you normally have. Things didn't end terribly well. I'll outline my methodology and outcome below.

Methodology:

Restrictions: Only use the races and classes defined in the PHB.

Ability Scores: Roll 4d6. Drop the lowest of the four. Do this in order for each of the abilities. The value you roll is the value for that abilities.

Race Selection: Role a d8.
1) Human
2) Elf
3) Half Elf
4) Half Orc
5) Dwarf
6) Halfling
7) Gnome
8) Roll again

Alignment: Roll 1d10
1) Lawful Good
2) Lawful Neutral
3) Lawful Evil
4) Neutral Good
5) Neutral
6) Neutral Evil
7) Chaotic Good
8) Chaotic Neutral
9) Chaotic Evil
10) Roll again

Class Selection: Roll a d12. If the chosen class has restrictions incompatible with your alignment, roll again.
1) Sorcerer
2) Wizard
3) Rogue
4) Bard
5) Cleric
6) Druid
7) Monk
8) Ranger
9) Fighter
10) Paladin
11) Barbarian
12) Roll again



I started out by rolling a Lawful Neutral Dwarf with the following stats.

STR: 18
DEX: 13
CON: 12 (14 Dwarf)
INT: 14
WIS: 12
CHA: 12 (10 Dwarf)

Those stats look pretty good, don't they? He looks like a bog standard Helmut Rockbreaker, Dwarven master Fighter and defender of the halls of his ancestors. I roll my class die to see what what I would be. Apparently fate has decreed that I will be a sorcerer.

This will not end well. A sorcerer with a charisma of 10 can't even cast 1st level spells. Given the cost of most magical items, it is unlikely that he would even live long enough to buy a cloak of charisma.

I decide to take another roll. The dice tell me that my Dwarf is now a Druid. Once again, we run into the same problem. The d8 hit die and light armor proficiency is helpful, but he won't be doing much healing or spellcasting. With careful stat choices, he might last long enough to wildshape.

Just out of morbid curiosity, I decide to roll a third time.

Monk. While not horrendous, it still presents some difficulties. Due to the character's low wisdom, he will not gain much benefit from the monk AC bonus. He also loses access to his racial benefits of encumbered movement speed and automatic dwarven war-axe proficiency.

Based on this short test, it seems that randomly generated characters might be good for a laugh, but will likely get rapidly mangled in combat unless the DM explicitly treats them as lower-level characters.

Has anyone tried this and found a way to work around it?

RandomFellow
2009-03-24, 10:03 PM
Add more sanity checks to the class table.

'Roll again if you roll a class in which a class feature which relies on an attribute is less than 14 unless the player wishes otherwise.'

Tiki Snakes
2009-03-24, 10:05 PM
Surely you should either be able to assign the rolls, or pick the class? I mean, otherwise you are morally obliged to play your Dwarven Sorcerer. :)

lsfreak
2009-03-24, 10:09 PM
Wholly random, I can't see this working. But, give the option to switch any two ability scores. If after that neither of the class's two most important scores are above 14 (decide what constitutes "most important" ahead of time), start over from the beginning.

Kylarra
2009-03-24, 10:20 PM
With a few more checks (like the >=14 on primary stat check or a bit of swapping for minimal control) in place it might be fun for a one-shot adventure, but nothing longer than that.

Vortling
2009-03-24, 10:22 PM
I would suggest dropping the random ability scores and do point buy instead. That way you can make functional characters regardless of what race/class combination you receive. I also recommend increasing the class and race list. Include as many +0, +1, and possibly +2 LA races as you can on the random race list and pull in the scads and scads of base classes available in 3.5. That should make up for the lack of random ability scores. You should be rolling at least a d30 for the class and likely a d100 for the race if you include all the racial variants.

Cedrass
2009-03-24, 10:25 PM
Hey! I got something good! Without cheating at all! First class roll I got a Druid, but it's not compatible with my Alignment so YAY :D

Lawful Good Elf Paladin

STR: 16
DEX: 14 (16 Elf)
CON: 14 (12 Elf)
INT: 11
WIS: 13
CHA: 13

Edit: I'm even tempted to do this as my next character XD

lsfreak
2009-03-24, 10:26 PM
I think part of the point is dealing with characters that might have major flaws in them, which a point buy bypasses completely. Sure, you have a random race and class, but you can still optimize its stats from there.

Olo Demonsbane
2009-03-24, 10:32 PM
Heres the best way to do ability scores. Do the previous way, but make the following changes after the stats are rolled and asigned:
1. Let the character switch any two ability scores
2. Let the character reroll one ability score

This adds to the chance you will get a play-able character but doesn't really reduce the randomness.

Starbuck_II
2009-03-24, 10:34 PM
I started out by rolling a Lawful Neutral Dwarf with the following stats.

STR: 18
DEX: 13
CON: 12 (14 Dwarf)
INT: 14
WIS: 12
CHA: 12 (10 Dwarf)

Monk. While not horrendous, it still presents some difficulties. Due to the character's low wisdom, he will not gain much benefit from the monk AC bonus. He also loses access to his racial benefits of encumbered movement speed and automatic dwarven war-axe proficiency.


Actually, Monk doesn't rely on Wisdom unless you focus them.
A Strength Monk would the type to wear armor (it only limits flurry and Wis to AC anyway) until he got a Wis Item or Monk's belt.

I'd suggest Leather armor or Masterwork Studded as neither requires proficiency (proficiency only stops Check penalties to hit and they have none).

That said: Monks usually aren't great unless optimized, but you could do okay.

STR: 18
DEX: 13
CON: 14
INT: 14
WIS: 12
CHA: 10

So you'd be like the Monk in Neverwinter Nights. Wearing guantlets for masterwork bonus (can't flurry in armor anyhow) + armor (he wore robes but with your Wisdom, yeah you'd wear leather or Studded Leather or Mithral Chainshirt around level 3).

It would be decent at low levels: I'd suggest a quarterstaff for 2 handed damage bonus.
Take improved Grapple instead of Stunning Fist (since DC would be low).

subject42
2009-03-25, 07:33 AM
+ armor (he wore robes but with your Wisdom, yeah you'd wear leather or Studded Leather or Mithral Chainshirt around level 3).

It would be decent at low levels: I'd suggest a quarterstaff for 2 handed damage bonus.
Take improved Grapple instead of Stunning Fist (since DC would be low).

Any suggestions on how to handle losing the speed bonus on the off chance that he would survive to third level?

Starbuck_II
2009-03-25, 09:02 AM
Any suggestions on how to handle losing the speed bonus on the off chance that he would survive to third level?

Buy boots of speed or Springing and jumping?

Or instead if non-core allowed: In Tome of Magic take the Binder feats to bind Ronove who grants Monk speed bonus with armor (only +10 but then again Monks only gain +10 at that time).

You'd need both feats to gain Sprint I see: 1st feat Bind Vestige gives you Feather Fall (emulate Slow Fall but better). Second feat Practiced Binder grants +10 enhancement to speed.

The another option is multiclass to Binder, but monks can't return if they multiclass so the feats work best.

Eldariel
2009-03-25, 09:28 AM
Heh:

Chaotic Good Half-Orc Fighter
Str: 13 (11 rolled)
Dex: 10
Con: 8
Int: 11 (13 rolled)
Wis: 10
Cha: 9 (11 rolled)

Make that good!


But anyway, out of the characters you rolled, Druid would be the best. You have 12 Wis, which you can increase to 13 on level 4 thus not missing any spellcasting levels and then you can get +2 Wis-item on 6. Use all your spells for buffing and go to town (Str 18 = scary Shillelagh-wielder).

With those stats, you'd make for a fine Aspect of Nature (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/classFeatureVariants.htm#wildShapeVariantAspectOfN ature)-Druid; with physicals that high, Wildshape would be kind of wasted (although having 18 Str means you'd be a kickass Shillelagh-fighter on level 1-5).

Gamgee
2009-03-25, 11:23 AM
Lawful Good Dwarf Paladin
Str 14
Dex 16
Con 12 (14)
Int 9
Wis 13
Cha 9 (7)

I rolled a Druid the first time, and a bard the second. I thought I was doomed, but finally I got a Paladin of all things that wasn't restricted by alignment. I think I could make it work, but that negative to charisma is going to hurt in a lot of the social situations. Most likely a more martial Paladin. Then a DM would no doubt set up a fall for me and I would surely be doomed, and I would be lucky to get into a group in the first place. I prefer the actual random generation in the srd since it still has some consistency.

Myou
2009-03-25, 12:18 PM
I got a Chaotic Evil Half Elf Barbarian with;

6 Str
7 Dex
9 Con
8 Int
12 Wis
8 Cha

I hope I'm a pacifistic chaotic evil barbarian.


And don't even get me started on being a half elf. xD

Mr.Bookworm
2009-03-25, 12:37 PM
My attempt did not go so well.

I got a CG Gnome with the following stats:

12 Str (10)
09 Dex
15 Con (17)
09 Int
11 Wis
16 Cha

Decent enough, especially for a Bard or Sorcerer.

Then I rolled my class, four times.

The first roll ended up as Paladin, which I can't be, due to alignment. The second was Wizard, which is unplayable. The third was Druid, which I can't be due to alignment. Then I got Barbarian. So, at least I'll be able to take damage.

Also, howabout expanding it for noncore?

Here's an attempt at the class chart. Roll 1d46 (computer recommended). Truenamer and CW Samurai have been left off.

1) Barbarian
2) Wizard
3) Bard
4) Monk
5) Sorcerer
6) Paladin
7) Rogue
8) Fighter
9) Ranger
10) Druid
11) Beguiler
12) Knight
13) Dragon Shaman
14) Duskblade
15) Binder
16) Shadowcaster
17) Crusader
18) Swordsage
19) Warblade
20) Psion
21) Psychic Warrior
22) Soulknife
23) Wilder
24) Ninja
25) Scout
26) Spellthief
27) Warlock
28) Warmage
29) Wu Jen
30) Favored Soul
31) Shugenja
32) Spirit Shaman
33) Ardent
34) Divine Mind
35) Lurk
36) Hexblade
37) Swashbuckler
38) Artificer
39) Dragonfire Adept
40) Dread Necromancer
41) Archivist
42) Incarnate
43) Soulborn
44) Totemist
45) Sohei
46) Samurai (OA)

Under this chart...

I would've gotten an Incarnate. Good enough.

EDIT: For fun, here's a LA +0 race chart (1d52, so computer, again):

1) Anthropomorphic Bat
2) Anthropomorphic Lizard
3) Anthropomorphic Monkey
4) Anthropomorphic Rat
5) Anthropomorphic Raven
6) Anthropomorphic Toad
7) Anthropomorphic Weasel
8) Asherati
9) Buomman
10) Changeling
11) Daelkyr Half-Blood
12) Darfellan
13) Dragonborn
14) Duskling
15) Dwarf
16) Elan
17) Elf
18) Faun
19) Gnome
20) Goblin
21) Hadozee
22) Half-Elf
23) Half-Orc
24) Halflings
25) Hellbred
26) Hengeyokai
27) Human
28) Jermlaine
29) Kalashtar
30) Kender
31) Kenku
32) Killoren
33) Kobold
34) Krinth
35) Krynn Minotaur
36) Lupin
37) Maenad
38) Neraphim
39) Nezumi
40) Orc
41) Planetouched
42) Raptoran
43) Rilkan
44) Shifter
45) Skarn
46) Spellscale
47) Spiker
48) Spirit Folk
49) Tibbit
50) Vanara
51) Warforged
52) Xeph

For races with variants, pick one, if you want.

Kylarra
2009-03-25, 12:50 PM
For fun though..
13 (11) STR
13 DEX (2 6s, 2 1s D:)
14 CON
14 (16) INT
10 WIS
10 (12) CHA

Chaotic Evil Half-orc Rogue

Number 2 was

13 (15) str
10 dex
19 (17) con
14 int
10 wis
14 cha

neutral good gnome ranger

Starbuck_II
2009-03-25, 02:20 PM
Barbarian: NE, Hallfing
Str 9 (Race 7)
Dex 17 (Race 19)
Con 18
Int 16
Wis 13
Cha 15

Notes:
I rolled great for Con...maybe a sling using Barbarian?

Second attempt:
Barbarian: CN, Human
Str 14
Dex 7
Con 14
Int 12
Wis 11
Cha 8

Notes:
Str is decent, but Dex sucks.

Ranger; LN, Halfing
Str 13 (Race 11)
Dex 13 (Race 15)
Con 12
Int 16
Wis 13
Cha 10

A very smart Ranger..Archer Ranger or multiclasss to Wizard later?

subject42
2009-03-25, 02:53 PM
Barbarian: NE, Hallfing
Str 9 (Race 7)
Dex 17 (Race 19)
Con 18
Int 16
Wis 13
Cha 15

Notes:
I rolled great for Con...maybe a sling using Barbarian?

A Spiked Chain with the Weapon Finesse Feat might be usable.

Draz74
2009-03-25, 03:06 PM
A Spiked Chain with the Weapon Finesse Feat might be usable.

Nah, Quick Draw and throwing weapons specialist. (Slings suck (no iterative attacks), but taking advantage of the halfling racial attack bonus is the way to go.)

JoshuaZ
2009-03-25, 03:29 PM
Roll 1d46 (computer recommended).


This is a roll that is easy to do without a computer. Roll two d10s in the standard way to get a d100. If the roll is a 93 or greater roll again, otherwise, take the remainder when divided by 46 (with 0 becoming a 46). This will occasionally require rerolls (8% of the time at least one) but is easy enough to implement without a computer.

The other roll you wanted d52 is a bit nastier to do with standard die, but can be done with only a small reroll percentage the same way if one uses three d10s to do d1000.

I'm not sure I like this degree of complete non-optimization. Characters will rarely go into careers that they are so bad at. They'll find something else to do.

Anyways, my rolls using the short list without the non-core classes:

Lawful Good Dwarf Ranger

Before racial adjustment:

Strength: 15
Dexterity: 15
Constitution: 14
Intelligence: 9
Wisdom: 11
Charisma: 7 (Ouch, lucky it ended up in charisma. I mean seriously, rolls of 1,1,1,4. Not fun)

After racial adjustment:
Strength: 15
Dexterity: 15
Constitution: 16
Intelligence: 9
Wisdom: 11
Charisma: 5

That has to be one of the least charismatic characters ever. All his mental stats are bad. He will however be able to cast very low level ranger spells. He'll probably put a point or two into Wisdom as he advances so this guy isn't going to be too bad aside from the low intelligence and very low charisma.

Dogmantra
2009-03-25, 03:32 PM
Hmm...

STR 14
DEX 10
CON 11
INT 13
WIS 15
CHA 9

Human

NG

So far, so good, I mean, alright stats, I'm really hoping for a Druid or cleric...

What do I get? Bard.
Yep, the one class that relies on a stat with a negative modifier.
Since I can't even cast cantrips, I'll roll the die again...
Barbarian. Not too bad, I would've preferred a cleric or druid.

I think the problem here is that it's too random. My suggestion is to arrange the classes and races in the best "spectrum" that you can, from fighters to skillmonkeys to arcane to divine casters. Then if you have a negative modifier in your primary attribute, you may move your class 1 or 2 steps up or down on the spectrum, for example, I rolled 9 CHA and a Bard. Bard is next to sorceror and wizard on one side, and rogue and ranger (maybe) on the other side:

5. Ranger
6. Rogue
7. Bard
8. Sorc
9. Wizard

I could now become any of those classes, as they're within two steps. I would probably choose Rogue or Ranger because of an alright strength and INT/WIS

Flickerdart
2009-03-25, 04:48 PM
STR 16
DEX 16
CON 11
INT 13
WIS 15
CHA 11

Not bad so far...let's try the race!

It's Halfling. Our DEX is now in the stratosphere, and our STR is a decent 14, meaning we're a fair Rogue or Ranger for now. A Neutral Good one at that. And we roll for class to find ourselves...

..a bard. Wow. Only Sorcerer would be worse than this. We are going to buy a Claok of Charisma as soon as we can, which won't take a while because we can Finesse-pummel our enemies fairly well. Lucky that we don't have a CON penalty.

Let's try this with the more general method.

STR 11
DEX 13
CON 18
INT 16
WIS 12
CHA 10

Whoa, this is something. We have no physical stats to speak of, but our chest is mighty (not that kind of chest, CHA is our dump stat). We're also Chaotic Good. Now, for the class...a Rogue! We make an excellent Skill Monkey this time around, though not very good in combat. Factotum or Wizard multiclassing is necessary unless we can rack up some points from the race. The race of Anthro Lizard. Woooonderful. Our stats weep.

STR 7
DEX 15
CON 18
INT 16
WIS 16
CHA 6

We do get enough skill points (11 a level!) to offset our absolute failure as a likable person, and our HP is decent. The bonus to DEX helps a lot, since now we have a half-decent AC and can Finesse something (if not for our -2 damage, that is...SA will off-set that somewhat). Level 1 is going to be horrid for this character though.

Nohwl
2009-03-25, 05:33 PM
LE human wizard

Str: 10
Dex: 11
Con: 6
Int: 14
Wis: 16
Cha: 11

not bad, i could get it to work without too much trouble.

magellan
2009-03-25, 06:09 PM
Roll 4d6 drop lowest? No, seriously? roll 4d6 drop lowest?? Thats whats absurdly non optimized for you kids these days?
In my day you kissed your dms feet if he allowed 4d6 drop lowest! and you could only raise attributes with wishes! and you needed 10 wishes to rise from 9 to 10! No fancy "1 point pre level!" no sir!

.... did i mention the uphill dungeons and the snow? *mumbles something about lawns*

actually, in my last campaign i allowed 4d6 drop lowest, put where you like. and to top it off lower one by 2 to raise another by 1.

...
yeah i am a softie, i know...

Kylarra
2009-03-25, 06:20 PM
Actually the means of [individual] stat generation has nothing to do with the optimization of the character (unless we're counting point buy). The relevant part is the fact that it is taken in order. Since the stat generation itself is random (you can't pick and choose where your stats go :smallwink: ), it is non-optimized.

"Absurdly" stems from the fact that you have zero control over the basic mechanical aspects forming the structure of your character.


I realize you were being facetious, but I couldn't help it.

MickJay
2009-03-25, 06:48 PM
I thought first one would be hard to play, but check the third one... second attempt was average. No re-rolls. Still, having that extra d6 makes it less fun :smalltongue:

Neutral Halfling Fighter

STR: 6 (-2)
DEX: 14 (+2)
CON: 13
INT: 13
WIS: 5
CHA: 15

Second:

Neutral Evil Human Fighter

STR: 10
DEX: 15
CON: 13
INT: 8
WIS: 11
CHA: 11

And third:

Neutral Evil Elf Cleric

STR: 16
DEX: 17 (+2)
CON: 5 (-2)
INT: 18
WIS: 11
CHA:10

Assassin89
2009-03-25, 07:22 PM
I attempted the system five times

CN Half Orc fighter

STR: 10 (+2)
DEX: 10
CON: 10
INT: 10 (-2)
WIS: 7
CHA: 17 (-2)

CE Half Orc fighter

STR: 10 (+2)
DEX: 10
CON: 16
INT: 17 (-2)
WIS: 16
CHA: 13 (-2)

NG Half Elf Cleric

STR: 12
DEX: 9
CON: 15
INT: 13
WIS: 7
CHA: 10

CE Half Elf Cleric

STR: 15
DEX: 14
CON: 12
INT: 18
WIS: 3
CHA: 11


CE Dwarf Cleric

STR: 18
DEX: 11
CON: 14 (+2)
INT: 15
WIS: 13
CHA: 11 (-2)

Essentially the stats could be better used for different characters, as the clerics are unable to cast spells. Only the dwarf and CE half-orc are better suited for playing.

JonestheSpy
2009-03-25, 09:08 PM
This just all seems silly. What's wrong with rolling randomly for abilities and race and then chooses class? That's considerably less optimized than the oh-so-popular point system, and you're unlikley to be stuck with utterly unusable characters.

raitalin
2009-03-25, 09:19 PM
Hey, my first post here, this looked like fun so I joined in:

Str: 11
Dex: 12
Con: 14
Int: 11
Wis: 10
Cha: 15

Half-elf Chaotic Neutral Sorcerer

I got Cleric on the first roll, which seemed kind of un-doable and Monk on the second, which was better but still pretty crappy. Sorcerer is definatly workable though, and Half-elf even helps it take the role of party spokesman.

Grynning
2009-03-25, 09:41 PM
Wow...figures the one time I roll something remotely decent with a random system, it's something I'll never get a chance to play :smallyuk: It does seems that WotC's online die roller does tend toward higher numbers, though, so it could be a fluke.

Halfling Barbarian, Neutral
Str 16 (18 rolled)
Dex 16 (14 rolled)
Con 15
Int 11
Wis 13
Cha 16

This character would be totally do-able. Eberron style Halfling Barb, use slings or throwing weapons and take some archery feats maybe. Throw some points in Intimidate to make use of that Cha. If multi-classing was allowed, this guy could become a beast with a Rogue and/or Ranger dip.

MeklorIlavator
2009-03-25, 10:00 PM
Let's see, using the OP's method, I get a Lawful Evil Chaotic Neutral Dwarf Druid with the following stats:
12
10(8)
13
9
13
8 (10)

Once again, I manage to make a character who qualifies under the reroll section of the PHB. Note that it took 8 rolls to get a compatible alignment.

woodenbandman
2009-03-25, 10:17 PM
I like this idea, but it needs more randomness but also at the same time less randomness. How does this sound:

You can switch 2 ability scores at the cost of -2 to each ability score. If the total of your modifiers is +4 or lower, before switching, reroll. If I did this, I'll get this:

STR 12
DEX 11
CON 14
INT 12
WIS 14
CHA 15

RACE Half Elf

Alignment: Chaotic Neutral

Class: Sorceror

Excellent! I was on pins and needles until I got that class selection. This should be a pretty workable character. No switching needed. Let's go again!

STR 7 (Switch with CHA)(was 16, before adjustments.
DEX 10
CON 12
INT 9
WIS 14
CHA 14 Switch with STR(was 11)

RACE Halfling

Alignment NG

Class: Sorceror

Again, still viable, still random. It works.

Eldariel
2009-03-25, 10:34 PM
STR 16
DEX 16
CON 11
INT 13
WIS 15
CHA 11

STR 11
DEX 13
CON 18
INT 16
WIS 12
CHA 10

STR 7
DEX 15
CON 18
INT 16
WIS 16
CHA 6

...Teach me to roll. Please?

xPANCAKEx
2009-03-25, 11:07 PM
Lawful evil dwarven cleric
15 str
16 dex
13 Con (15 dwarf)
12 Int
11 Wis
11 Cha

dear lord... he'd be a monster ;)

CapedLuigiYoshi
2009-03-25, 11:26 PM
...First off, I'd like to say that I don't actually play this game, but I at least know enough from the SRD to do this correctly.

So, my first try at this...

CE Elf Sorcerer
Str: 5
Dex: 13 (15 with racial bonus)
Con: 18 (16 with racial penalty)
Int: 17
Wis: 13
Cha: 12

This guy/girl would be better as a wizard, huh? Though I got some lucky rolls on the Constitution, which is good, I guess. Not that I like CE...

Now my second try...

CE Human Sorcerer
Str: 12
Dex: 17
Con: 11
Int: 12
Wis: 10
Cha: 7

Okay, that one was botched. It's never a good idea to have a sorcerer with a Charisma penalty. Might have worked better as a rouge rogue... And why CE again?

And finally, a third try...

NG Dwarven Barbarian
Str: 14
Dex: 14
Con: 13 (15 with racial bonus)
Int: 15
Wis: 5
Cha: 11 (9 with racial bonus)

...Meh. Decent physical stats, but it's not exactly good to have a Wisdom penalty. At least he/she wasn't CE this time.

Again, I don't play, but I know what I'm talking about here.

Sarkile
2009-03-25, 11:55 PM
Seemed kind of interesting, I rolled up
Neutral Good Dwarven Bard

STR: 11
DEX: 11
CON: 11
INT: 18
WIS: 11
CHA: 13

Life certainly wouldn't be easy for him, but I might be able to make it work by playing up the skills.

vegetalss4
2009-03-26, 03:53 AM
this is fun i rolled a
neutral
Human cleric
with
STR: 12
DEX: 14
CON: 14
INT: 10
WIS: 9
CHA: 10
this guy is properly not going to work

the first time
and a
choatic neutral
half-orc bard
with
STR 18 (16 before race)
DEX 15
CON 13
INT 13 (15 before race)
WIS 13
CHA 3 (5 before race)
hm this guy could work, through he would be a rather nonstandard bard. using power attack and buffing himself with his song, but with no magic at all

and the third time i rolled a
Lawful Good
Dwarven Rogue
with
STR: 10
DEX: 13
CON: 17 (15 before race)
INT: 16
WIS: 15
CHA: 13 (15 before race)
hmm he could repressent a dwarven enigeir quite fine.

and the fourth and last time i rolled a
Chaotic Evil
human wizard
with
STR: 13
DEX: 14
CON: 9
INT: 12
WIS: 11
CHA:17
seems we have a guy that wanted to be a sorcerer but just didn't have the spark.

Ellye
2009-03-26, 04:11 AM
@vegetalss4
I like that dwarf rogue and that half-orc bard. I once played a Bard/Barbarian that had a similar style (but he had some CHA, of course).

------
My group always uses dierolls for the ability scores, but the players get to swap them around freely.

I'll see what I can get with full randomness:

Race: Half-Elf
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Class: Monk Cleric

STR: 10
DEX: 4
CON: 12
INT: 8
WIS: 13
CHA: 15

=========
=========

Race: Halfling
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Class: Paladin Rogue

STR: 16 14
DEX: 16 18
CON: 5
INT: 12
WIS: 9
CHA: 10

This character works, I think. He'd be fragile and his social abilities wouldn't be good, but he'd still be able to fight quite well.

RandomLunatic
2009-03-26, 10:49 AM
First try:

NG Half-Orc Ranger

STR: 10 (8 rolled)
DEX: 16
CON: 8
INT: 14 (16 rolled)
WIS: 12
CHA: 8 (10 rolled)

On the whole, a perfectly servicable archer. That CON penalty is going to be painful, though.

Try the second:

CE Elf Cleric
STR: 12
DEX: 18 (16 rolled)
CON: 7 (9 rolled)
INT: 17
WIS: 17
CHA: 12

Again, very workable, as long as you mind your fragility.

Third time is the charm?
LN Half-Elf Cleric
STR: 12
DEX: 9
CON: 15
INT: 10
WIS: 12
CHA: 9
This one is about the opposite of the other two, being able to take damage to the exclusion of most else. Still, this guy has the best chance to survive first level. Putting your level 4 point into WIS, then grabbing a +2 item at first chance means you will actually not lose any casting.

Sotharsyl
2009-03-26, 02:23 PM
You can realy generate interesting characters like this non core:
Lawful Evil Faun Warlock
Str 12
Dex 7
Con 9
Int 15
Wis 12
Cha 17

caith
2009-03-26, 02:42 PM
it's kind of screwy how people always put the DM as an unbending willful automaton, who cannot make any changes without a great battle. if your DM agreed to this, and was in on it, then he or she would obviously plan to have a different style of campaign. if your dm put you into a module with these characters with no adjustment, then your dm would be an idiot. the DM always has the power to make ANYthing work and be fun...I personally think this would be great. the basis for the campaign could be that you are the last survivors of a number of assassinations in the adventurers guild, seeing as how you were so worthless, the local thieves guild left you alive. now they are poised to plunder all the tombs and ruins of the world for themselves and move ahead with their plan to take over the metropolitan city you both vie for control of. and go. at first you'd probly be bumbling fools but after a few rat-killing adventures you might find yourselves as capable treasure hunters, and you did it against all odds. this is just one crappy example that i just pulled out of me arse. the possibilities are, literally, endless. and for funsies...my random bumbler


lvl 9 CG Half Elf Wizard

Str 13
Con 9
Dex 17
Int 16 (+2)
Wis 6
Cha 14

equipment(random!) - rolled on the medium magic, had $$ left rolled on minor magic, rolled once on scrolls(for casters) and once on potions
Rod of Splendor
Wand of Levitate
Scroll of Domination
Potion of Aid
1075gp

Probly go evoker and focus on rays and metamagic, kind of a blaster type. high dex so high ar, maybe even go abjuration and make a weapon finesse wizard fighter guy...also you didnt say that there's no multiclassing later in life. so you could optimize by multiclassing and using your attribute bonuses to balance. if these started at level 1 it would certainly be tougher, but starting at level 5 or so(which could even be randomly rolled!) you could make up for some shortcomings with magic items...for the record i rolled a 20 for my random starting level but i would argue 20 would have to be a reroll...now if someone can get a random feat table going that would be pretty sweet.

Atamasama
2009-03-26, 04:36 PM
Rolling my random character:

ST: 13
DX: 13
CN: 10
IQ: 15
WS: 16
CH: 14

Freaking awesome stats so far (for being so random)! Lowest is Constitution which is still high enough to have no penalties.

Race: Half Elf

Eh, never been a fan of Half Elves but whatever.

Rolled a 10 on alignment, so rolled again. Chaotic Good.

For class... I rolled a bard. Not bad! The high Wisdom seems a bit of a waste, but other than that this isn't a bad character at all!

RavKal
2009-03-27, 11:05 PM
started out just fine,
LE Dwarf Fighter
Str: 16
Dex: 15
Con: 14
Int: 14
Wis: 7
Cha: 12

And then it got bad.
Neutral Half-elf (bluh) Wizard
Str: 15
Dex:13
Con: 7
Int: 12
Wis: 15
Cha: 11

Yeah, that's a hp gain of 1d4-3 PER LEVEL. (And yes I know the minimum)