Most popular ability score rolling method? [Archive]

Lurkmoar

2011-06-29, 05:39 PM

Roll 3d6, apply in order. :smalltongue: 4d6b3 is likely the most popular.

Heh, talk about chance!

2ed PHB had a few ways of rolling up scores. Six actually.

My group uses 4d6b3 though. Point buy a few times.

Gnome Alone

2011-06-29, 05:51 PM

I'd assume 4d6 best 3 to be the most popular as well. My group does that with the extra cushiness of rerolling 1s.

Etrivar

2011-06-29, 05:57 PM

Our group uses 5d4, assigned to any ability you want, but take that with a grain of salt, as we tend to run very high power campaigns.

Bhaakon

2011-06-29, 06:14 PM

I usually go 3d6, re-roll 1s and 2s, and assign them however you please. Doesn't really work with online dice rollers, though.

opticalshadow

2011-06-29, 06:43 PM

we draw a circle and roll 4d6 12 times (placing numbers as a clock face, this isnt required but it makes it easier) dropping the lowest die, and any result less then 8. then you can take any 6 scores as long as they are inline (they all have to be adjacent)

this tends to give slightly better odds for MAD characters and help the earely game a bit, less chance for stumped acore.

Kojiro

2011-06-29, 06:47 PM

4d6, best three. I like the "Floating Reroll" method, though, too, where, once during your entire rolling thing, you get to take a single die and, well, reroll it. The example given is 6, 6, 2, 1; reroll that one, and you will almost definitely have a better score there, maybe even an 18. It adds a small bit of control to the whole thing, although you have to know when to use it. You can't go back and reroll something on your second ability result after getting all the way to your sixth without using it.

Ryu_Bonkosi

2011-06-29, 06:49 PM

3 sets of 6x 4d6b3 and taking the set you want. But I use point-buy for building purposes.

EarFall

2011-06-29, 08:50 PM

Some of these seem nice. I usually used the 4d6 seven times, dropping the lowest overall. Now my groups use 32 pb pretty much exclusively.

Just once I want to try the following: 5d6 drop two lowest.
3d6 in order

And just for random: 1d20, place as desired. (Int cannot be below 3, but the others are fair game)

GoodbyeSoberDay

2011-06-29, 08:58 PM

4d6b3 six times any order is the most common in my experience. By the way, as far as PbP goes, re-rolling 1s is the same as saying 4d5b3+3 - saves you some rolling.

DiBastet

2011-06-29, 09:05 PM

4d6b3 is our basic. However, we do a checklist first: if your modifier total is +2 or less, or if you don't have at least a 15, you can't choose to use this roll.

If you have at least this minimum, you can stay with your score, or throw it away permanently and use one of your rerolls. every player can use up to three rerolls. it works relatively well.

We tried 3 dragon ante, but really, it's a pain.

Temet Nosce

2011-06-29, 09:13 PM

And just for random: 1d20, place as desired. (Int cannot be below 3, but the others are fair game)

That... sounds rather fun. I suspect some people would hate it, but it really appeals to me. (Heh, tried rolling just now and got 11, 12, 19, 14, 10, 3, would be an interesting character).

Regardless, while I agree with the consensus that straight 4d6 drop the lowest is almost certainly the most popular method, I can't recall a game I used it in. The last game I ran I used 6d6, drop the bottom three, but for every six you roll beyond the first three you get a one point increase in that ability (so 18 for three sixes, 19 for four, etc).

Thurbane

2011-06-29, 09:20 PM

We generally use one of the 4d6b3 variants - you are allowed to re-roll any one dice during the process.

Ravens_cry

2011-06-29, 09:43 PM

I have only rolled once for a character and I didn't get to play them. All games I have had characters I actually played have used point buy.

BlueInc

2011-06-29, 10:03 PM

That... sounds rather fun. I suspect some people would hate it, but it really appeals to me. (Heh, tried rolling just now and got 11, 12, 19, 14, 10, 3, would be an interesting character).

I played with a group that rolled 4d6b3 AND 1d20. You got to pick which set of stats you used, but you had to use all one or all the other.

I ended up playing a very unintelligent monk XD

Ryu_Bonkosi

2011-06-30, 11:30 AM

I played with a group that rolled 4d6b3 AND 1d20. You got to pick which set of stats you used, but you had to use all one or all the other.

I ended up playing a very unintelligent monk XD

So you played a monk? :smallconfused:

Blisstake

2011-06-30, 11:34 AM

4d6 best 3. No re-rolling any of the results. If your results are pretty much unplayable, you scrap all your results and start over.

BillyBobJoe

2011-06-30, 11:40 AM

We do 2 sets of 5d6b3x7 (we have an appearance stat), which sounds powerful, but my last character got:

18, 16, 15, 14 10, 7, 4
&
7, 9, 12, 14, 6, 18, 8.

Essence_of_War

2011-06-30, 11:44 AM

I like point buy, most of the other people in the group realllllly like rolling dice.

I've tricked them into lowering the variance by using 4d6 drop lowest 12 times, keep your favorite 6. :smallredface:

Kefkafreak

2011-06-30, 11:44 AM

Point Buy 32. Always.

BlueInc

2011-06-30, 11:49 AM

So you played a monk? :smallconfused:

I really wanted to play a monk... this was the second character I ever made. I wasn't thinking "Man, the Wizard in the party can summon shadows to drain the strength of our enemies," I was thinking "KABAM! I PUNCH THE BAD GUY IN THE FACE!"

Plus, the character was extremely fun to roleplay. She was as a semi-kleptomaniac. Her monk order studied the ways of a man who reached perfection; most of the stories about him spoke of him always having/finding the right tools to confront any challenge (ala-MacGyver). She stuffed everything not nailed down into a bag of holding (including a stray cat that became her friend) in hopes of being like her example and always having what she needed.

Ryu_Bonkosi

2011-06-30, 11:56 AM

I really wanted to play a monk... this was the second character I ever made. I wasn't thinking "Man, the Wizard in the party can summon shadows to drain the strength of our enemies," I was thinking "KABAM! I PUNCH THE BAD GUY IN THE FACE!"

Plus, the character was extremely fun to roleplay. She was as a semi-kleptomaniac. Her monk order studied the ways of a man who reached perfection; most of the stories about him spoke of him always having/finding the right tools to confront any challenge (ala-MacGyver). She stuffed everything not nailed down into a bag of holding (including a stray cat that became her friend) in hopes of being like her example and always having what she needed.

I wasn't berating you for taking monk, just slighting monks for being MAD and not being able to take a high Intelligence most of the time.

Yora

2011-06-30, 11:58 AM

If rolling, then 3d6, assign to abilities as desired.

Anderlith

2011-06-30, 12:00 PM

Tried & true, 4d6 keep 3, put them were ever you want. I didn't know point buy was popular.

JaronK

2011-06-30, 12:14 PM

I almost always use point buy these days, but the amount varies by campaign.

JaronK

Person_Man

2011-06-30, 12:18 PM

My group uses the ingenious method of "Use whatever attributes are reasonable for your character, and don't be a d###." You'd be surprised at how well this works.

Veyr

2011-06-30, 12:19 PM

I absolutely refuse to play in any game where a permanent statistic is determined by chance. I've always disliked it, but I decided I was just done with it when I was a Swordsage//Bard with the equivalent of a 25-point-buy in the same game as a Archivist//Wizard with the equivalent of a 49-point-buy. There was absolutely nothing good about that situation, and it did not add to the game.

I know random chance leads to a greater variety of characters, can lead to interesting quirks, etc. etc., but it's just not worth it to me. The possibilities of huge disparities in players' power levels is awful, not to mention that really, a player's character ought to be their decision.

Person_Man

2011-06-30, 12:22 PM

I absolutely refuse to play in any game where a permanent statistic is determined by chance.

You mean like, real life (http://anthro.palomar.edu/mendel/mendel_2.htm)?

137beth

2011-06-30, 12:25 PM

My group uses point buy...
We also use average results on all hit-dice.
@above: Yea, but in a game, I find it more fun if everyone has the opportunity to get equivalent permanent stats. RPGs are intended to be more realistic than most games, but really, if they were completely realistic I would not want to play.

Divide by Zero

2011-06-30, 12:25 PM

Point Buy 32. Always.

This. I've only ever played one game with rolling, and it was the standard 4d6.

Malimar

2011-06-30, 12:27 PM

As the title says. What is the most popular ability score rolling method(NOT counting point buy) if one exists at all?

My favored method of rolling ability scores: Roll the dice on the floor at the DM's feet so he needs to make a Balance check while I run away and join a game that doesn't roll for ability scores.

Iferus

2011-06-30, 12:37 PM

roll 5 times 4d6b3 in order, then pick one of those sets.

Kyberwulf

2011-06-30, 01:09 PM

In my games we roll 1d8+10 apply as desired.

or 1d10+8 if we don't want super powered campainges.

Taelas

2011-06-30, 01:22 PM

I like rolling, but it becomes too disparate between different characters and it gets incredibly frustrating if you roll low and your buddy rolls high. I tend to use point distribution instead as a result (each increase costs one point, and you get a total of 78-86 points depending on the power level of the campaign).

I have toyed with the idea of 5d6b3r1 (roll 5d6, drop the lowest two, reroll any 1s, arranged as desired), but when I roll, I normally use 4d6b3r1.

Veyr

2011-06-30, 01:33 PM

You mean like, real life (http://anthro.palomar.edu/mendel/mendel_2.htm)?
Why should that matter? I'm playing a game to have fun, to get away from the dreary realities of life, that one included.

randomhero00

2011-06-30, 02:00 PM

4d6, best 3, AND reroll 1s. Feels just right.

Person_Man

2011-06-30, 02:03 PM

Why should that matter? I'm playing a game to have fun, to get away from the dreary realities of life, that one included.

Sorry, it was meant as a snarky and/or humorous comment. I was raised before the invention of emoticons (in an ancient and barren time known in legend and to some historians as "The 80's"). Have some forgiveness for the elderly.

kharmakazy

2011-06-30, 02:04 PM

I always give players 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8 to put wherever they like. That way everyone has the same stats, and they can put them where it will help their class the most. Even get a 20 in a primary stat if they pick the right race. :smallwink:

RedWarrior0

2011-06-30, 03:01 PM

I've yet to convince someone to do 9d2 rerolling ones, unfortunately.

More seriously, I like the grid method: You put your physicals in a row along the top, your mentals along the side, and in each intersection roll 4d6b3. You can assign an attribute any of the three in its row/column. It's not forcing you into a concept, but at the same time you won't be guaranteed good stats for a concept in mind.

137beth

2011-06-30, 03:29 PM

@above: interesting idea...I still don't like the idea of randomly generating stats, but this is interesting indeed.

My favored method of rolling ability scores: Roll the dice on the floor at the DM's feet so he needs to make a Balance check while I run away and join a game that doesn't roll for ability scores.

That's my new favorite method as well:smallbiggrin:
And while you're at it, get your new DM to say that having dice thrown at you is a DC 1000 balance check.

DiBastet

2011-06-30, 05:32 PM

wow. around her we don't have the luxury of leaving a good group with long campaigns that really are played instead of not going past session 6, because o ability score rolling methods... I see it from the line in front of my house to join our group...

137beth

2011-06-30, 05:48 PM

thompur

2011-06-30, 05:54 PM

Roll 24d6 keep best 18, arrange as desired, maximum/minimum 3 dice per atribute. (Alternatively, 80 attribute points, assign as desired, no sta below 6/ above 18 before racial adjustments.)

Psyren

2011-06-30, 06:43 PM

Throwing my support behind both 4d6b3 and 32 PB

RedWarrior0

2011-06-30, 06:53 PM

Lonely Tylenol

2011-06-30, 07:02 PM

32 PB and 4d6b3 is nice, but for those interested, this (http://invisiblecastle.com/stats/view/27172/) is an example of the Grid method I talked about. The best thing about Grid is that you will probably not have three terrible stats in a single roll/column, forcing one to be taken, nor three awesome stats, forcing one to be dropped.

I was interested.

Thanks!

P.S. My DM decreed that we would use 3d6, change the lowest to a 6. The result is nobody has a stat lower than 8, and most players have positive modifiers in every stat. It's a little powerful for me, and I prefer instead to use the 4d6b3 method, or 3d6r1, for games I run (though in the interest of fairness, I have yet to run a full-blown campaign that went from 1 to 20, as mine is far from ready). If you roll bad, roleplay your flaws like a good little roleplayer, although for long-term games I might allow 25-point buy or the Elite Array as last-ditch fallbacks for the character that rolls four negative modifiers.

Thurbane

2011-06-30, 09:16 PM

Pfft, kids thesedays and their "point buy" - everyone's gotta be a superhero! Back in my day it was 3d6 in order!

:smallbiggrin:

Psyren

2011-06-30, 09:37 PM

Pfft, kids thesedays and their "point buy" - everyone's gotta be a superhero! Back in my day it was 3d6 in order!

:smallbiggrin:

If I ended up with bad rolls, my character would have stayed at home and been a commoner, rather than taking to the suicidal life of the adventurer. :smalltongue:

Thurbane

2011-06-30, 09:42 PM

If I ended up with bad rolls, my character would have stayed at home and been a commoner, rather than taking to the suicidal life of the adventurer. :smalltongue:
I remember taking a Ranger back in 1E - back then, you rolled your 1st level HPs, and rangers got 2d8 at first level. I rolled snakeyes - two 1's. So I sent him off to "test his manhood" in a dangerous forest by himself. Then rolled up another character. :smallbiggrin:

Psyren

2011-06-30, 09:43 PM

I remember taking a Ranger back in 1E - back then, you rolled your 1st level HPs, and rangers got 2d8 at first level. I rolled snakeyes - two 1's. So I sent him off to "test his manhood" in a dangerous forest by himself. Then rolled up another character. :smallbiggrin:

Also acceptable!

Rodimal

2011-07-01, 02:30 PM

We roll 4d6 drop the lowest, rerolling ones. We have no problem with a six in a stat, but a 3 is utterly stupid for someone who is supposed to be a cut above the rest. We also always role two sets and pick the best of the two.

Out