calithena Moderator Official "Fight On!" Scribe member is offline
Will Withstand Adversity
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Re: 3d6 in order « Reply #15 on Jul 15, 2007, 7:09am »
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.
Joined: Jul 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 2,503 Karma: 57
Re: 3d6 in order « Reply #16 on Jul 16, 2007, 1:22am »
I don't have a problem with 3d6, as long as it's the DM rolling it for me.
Dice hate me when it comes to character creation. They always have.
(Warning! Digressing into AD&D for a moment here; smite me if you must)
I remember when Unearthed Arcana came out. It had a method of character creation for people who wanted a specific class. It gave you something like 9 dice for your prime req. I used it to roll up a fighter.
I ended up with a 16 strength.
That's just an illustration of how badly dice hate me.
But I play the characters anyway! That's just the way it's done!
Re: 3d6 in order « Reply #17 on Jul 24, 2007, 11:24pm »
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).
Joined: Jul 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 2,503 Karma: 57
Re: 3d6 in order « Reply #18 on Jul 25, 2007, 1:48am »
Y'know, I think what amuses me most about this discussion is the very, very D&D-centric house rules.
I mean, in every other game I've ever played (and I've played a lot, but I always come back to D&D), you just roll up your character the way it says in the book. And that's it.
AD&D (and later versions thereof) is the only game I've ever seen where multiple methods of generating character stats exist.
I think it's a bit of a warning sign; things are not normal here! So I prefer to avoid the whole thing and play the Original D&D and use the original 3d6 in order. Sure, your stats won't be as high as an AD&D character's, but you're not playing AD&D, so it's okay!
18s are as rare as they should be. It was really something back in Greyhawk days, to be able to play a Paladin, because not only did you get a 17 or 18, but you got it in Charisma. (In 3d edition, anybody can play a Paladin. I think it really waters down the "specialness" if you just let anyone have one.)
Joined: Jun 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 505 Karma: 15
Re: 3d6 in order « Reply #19 on Jul 25, 2007, 11:43am »
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).
Re: 3d6 in order « Reply #20 on Jul 26, 2007, 10:30am »
Hmm, nothing like rolling up some ability stats to get you pumped up about the game. Just for fun, I rolled the following:
STR 9 INT 9 WIS 12 CON 8 DEX 12 CHA 11
OK, cleric.
But with that DEX, I immediately thought of the GH supplement and the thief class. Nice to know you can use that supplement if you feel strongly enough about having them.
I guess I'd still like to try the game with the 3 main books, so would stick with the cleric.
"Enjoy a 'world' where the fantastic is fact and magic really works!" ~ Gary Gygax 1 November 1973 Men & Magic
"By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes:" Second Witch ~ Act IV Scene I Macbeth
Finarvyn Administrator Dungeon Master member is offline
Joined: Jun 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 4,673 Location: Near Chicago Karma: 178
Re: 3d6 in order « Reply #21 on Jul 26, 2007, 3:58pm »
Quote:
I don't mind above average characters, but I like the 'feel' of 3d6 straight.
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.
Marv / Finarvyn DCC playtester (2011) C&C playtester (2003) I'm partly responsible for the S&W WhiteBox Builder of the TrollBridge Master of Mutants; MA since 1976 OD&D Player since 1975
"Don't ask me what you need to hit. Just roll the die and I will let you know!" - Dave Arneson
Joined: Aug 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 598 Karma: 17
Re: 3d6 in order « Reply #22 on Aug 7, 2007, 10:52pm »
I usually let players roll 4d6 and drop the lowest for whatever edition of D&D I play. The funny thing is that the most fun I ever had playing a character was a first level thief that was employed by a number of higher level characters. He had only 2 hit points.
Now I bet some of you are saying, "bet he didn't last too long." Actually one of the other characters, a fighter played by one of the regulars, kind of decided to watch over the new guy. I survived several encounters with some creatures that should of killed me! It was that orc with a two handed sword that got me in the end....
Most of the guys I played with over the last couple of years were so awful about wanting mega characters, I eventually just gave up AD&D, and 3ED&D. These systems are nice for power gamer dorks, but not for me!
My cousin has a daughter who is 12. She loves to read science fiction and fantasy! I decided I'd give her my old Basic and Expert rules and some dice and see what she will do with it. Her dad and his brother gamed with me from time to time when we were teens, so who knows? I have to wait a few years before my daughter tries a game. Right now she'd probably eat the dice!
Finarvyn Administrator Dungeon Master member is offline
Joined: Jun 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 4,673 Location: Near Chicago Karma: 178
Re: 3d6 in order « Reply #23 on Aug 8, 2007, 6:33am »
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....
Marv / Finarvyn DCC playtester (2011) C&C playtester (2003) I'm partly responsible for the S&W WhiteBox Builder of the TrollBridge Master of Mutants; MA since 1976 OD&D Player since 1975
"Don't ask me what you need to hit. Just roll the die and I will let you know!" - Dave Arneson
Kyrel Level 6 Magician Defender vs Spam member is offline
Joined: Jun 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 488 Location: Florida Suncoast Karma: 13
Re: 3d6 in order « Reply #24 on Aug 8, 2007, 5:44pm »
I've always been an advocate of 3d6 in order. IMC, I do allow a player who has rolled up a character with less than a -2 modifier (for all ability scores combined, mind you) the opportunity of a re-roll...once. If that roll is also sub-par, well, they just have to accept it & move on (I do, however, allow them to start off with maximum hit points at 1st level). I think I'll roll up a character now, too: STR12, INT12, WIS11, DEX8, CON17, CHA9 Pretty decent. I'm thinking Magic-User. He/She is of average strength, reasonably intelligent, can be persuaded somewhat easily, is clumsy but healthy enough to take it, & is perhaps unsure of themselves & their abilities. The bottom-line of all this is that, as a player, would you derive more enjoyment from the feeling of "You know, I knew Ulthgaar could kick that monster's a*s", or the feeling of "Wow, I can't believe Ulthgaar just kicked that monster's a*s!!!" I'll take the latter any day
"Second," the Grand Oon continues, "there is Kyrel, the Magic-User."
tgamemaster1975 Guest
Re: 3d6 in order « Reply #25 on Aug 8, 2007, 8:12pm »
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.
Re: 3d6 in order « Reply #26 on Aug 11, 2007, 2:02pm »
I believe one set of 3d6 in order is best, but I do not object to allowing them to roll up an additional set or three if the numbers just don't "speak" to the player. Though I would encourage them to keep what they rolled and try to make something of it.
Its a fine line in some cases - while I don't want to see them re-rolling until they get super-duper-uber-mensch, I'd like them to be content with their character. After all , this is a game and the object is to have fun. Don't want them to be miserable with a character they have no interest in playing, but do expect some reasonableness on their part, too.
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