3d6 in order

In three of our OD&D campaigns we do exactly this. Roll 3d6 in order and use what you roll. I have 3 six sided dice that I have had for years and I roll very well with them so often I just roll up the characters stats and hand them it. It works well for us.

In the other campaign we roll heroic characters instead.

Note in three campaigns we don't use the Greyhawk stats, we only use those in the heroic campaign. If you don't use the Greyhawk stats, then the numbers aren't that big of a deal.

For OD&D it's either "3d6 in order" or "ability scores optional" -- the player chooses which scores he wants to roll, everything else is assumed to be average. The adjustments are small enough, characters come and go quickly enough, and "party balance" isn't so important, that you can get away with using this method.

It doesn't work (IMO) for AD&D, though, where adjustments are bigger, characters are more durable, and the rules/adventures tend to assume a more balanced party (with at least one member of each of the 4 primary classes). For a long time I advocated using DMG Method IV for AD&D (which is, essentially, still 3d6 in order but generating 12 characters and picking the best) but lately I've come to think that even that isn't enough -- an AD&D character pretty much needs 2 stats (and, even moreso, the right two stats) in the 15+ range to be viable, and you're not likely to get that using Method IV. I'm not sure what method I'll go with in future AD&D games -- perhaps Method I (4d6-L, arranged to suit -- which is pretty much the default, but I don't really like because I think arranging to suit leads to cookie-cutter characters -- the fighter will always have highest score in Str, 2nd highest in Con, 3rd in Dex, 4th in Cha, 5th in Wis, and lowest in Int, etc.) or even the infamous Method V from UA (which is fun because, while you're pretty much guaranteed to get at least a couple really high scores, there's still the possibility of getting stuck with a really low score -- and as someone who's been playing a Str 3 character for the last 2 years, I can attest to the character-building power of having to compensate for a really low stat; it adds a whole new element of challenge and fun to the game, plus it gives you a built in roleplaying hook).

Anhow, sorry to have spent so much of this post talking about AD&D rather than OD&D. Feel free to "smite" me...

An extra 10% in XP is essentially irrelevant.

In one game I was in, a player--I'll call him Barry-- didn't like his character's stats and spent a great deal of time grousing about it and about the game in general. Finally, he charged a dragon (and lost, of course). The DM refused to let Barry roll up a new character, saying he'd played out his part in this adventure. ;D

I think Barry's actions showed he wasn't really interested in role playing, just in having a gronk character that could kill anything and everything. Of course, I could be wrong. He could be the sensitive, misunderstood sort.

These days I prefer 3d6 in order, but am always willing to make changes to that mindset if the players object.

The numbers don't matter unless you are using Supplement I Greyhawk with the exception of the 10% experience bonus. It is significant in my games and my players are always happy when they have a character that can qualify for it. I have never had a problem with anyone having a character commit suicide so they can reroll a character. I suppose it was just assumed by everyone that this practice would not be rewarded so they never went there.

In the old days, we almost never had a player suicide a PC. We did usually allow ditching really bad characters (I think Holmes Basic suggested that). I suspect things might be different today though. With more and more players being used to being able to create the character they want I could see more resistance to bad characters. But it might just take the occiasional: "sure, you can switch your Dex and your Int so you have a viable MU." Combined with a does of "sure, you can reroll that PC who has nothing better than an 8."

Frank

I don't mind above average characters, but I like the 'feel' of 3d6 straight.

If you want to make sure everyone's minimally competent, just give the player the option to reroll if either (a) the stats total to 60 or less, or (b) if no prime attribute score (S/I/W/D) exceeds 12. So that way you're guaranteed a minimally competent whatever, but you still get the randomness and 'spread' of 3d6.

If you want people to be able to choose class, you can add one 'swap' to the method above, and then they can have the prime attribute they need, but it's still pretty random. I prefer not to use this last step, but it's a compromise that's there if someone just really hates clerics or whatever.

And of course if you get an interesting below-average character (maybe high int but very sickly, or whatever) you're allowed to keep that if it strikes you - you don't have to reroll just because it's low.

I've been doing 3d6 in order, lately. It's made for some interesting PCs. For example, the party has an Elf with average scores in Str and Int, but a very high Wis (which is basically a dump stat for an OD&D elf). It's also challenged me to find ways to bring out and use that high Wis score in play.

I think 3d6 in order works very well for OD&D (but less so in later editions where stats have more impact on play).

I've seen house rules for character generation in quite a few game systems. In GURPS and Champions, though not with random attributes, GMs have imposed house rules beyond things to set the direction of the campaign (things like no more than this many points of disads rather than). I used alternate rolling systems in RuneQuest (and they may have even suggested some of them).

Frank

In an ideal world I might agree, but when you put personalities in with the character sheet I often have problems because many of my players have favorite classes they like best. I prefer "3d6, arrange to taste" just for that reason.

As far as the averageness I agree with your philosophy, however. ;D

I'm lucky enough that my group is willing to play whatever I want to run, so I don't tend to have quite the powergamer problem. Also I'm lucky enough to have gotten my kids into D&D early in life, and they prefer my style of gaming as well. Ah, mind control....

I usually run it as 3d6 in order, no rerolls, and you roll your hit points at first level, no rerolls, and no max hit points at first level. It has always worked well for us.

are there people who don't???


str, int, wis, con, dex, cha

start all pcs at lvl 1.