Referee rolls 3d6, not player?

[Deleted]

If I recall correctly (sorry don't have the books with me) the rules have the referee rolling the ability scores and then the player choosing a class based on the rolls. What are the advantages of doing it this way? It seems to have been changed to the player doing the rolling in every incarnation after the original rules. Do you guys let the players roll or do you have the referee roll in your OD&D campaigns?

[ffilz]

Yes, I read that in the rules also, on page 10 of Men & Magic, "Determination of Abilities".

I think there wasn't much advantage to this, which is why it was changed later, though there is an advantage of removing player cheating (though I doubt that was the reason for the statement originally).

Frank

[Melan]

Jul 16, 2008 7:20:27 GMT -6 @ptingler said:

What are the advantages of doing it this way?

If you are tired of your current bunch of players, you can get rid of them very fast with these kinds of techniques.

[tank]

Jul 16, 2008 8:09:58 GMT -6 Melan said:

If you are tired of your current bunch of players, you can get rid of them very fast with these kinds of techniques.

"Wow, no score higher than seven again... Next!"

[kesher]

Well, the DM is GOD, right? Who else is supposed to roll your abilities?

[Deleted]

Lol, I like your guys' interpretations.

[Rhuvein]

Bah, I let/want the players to roll their abilities. I don't like too much DM tight-ass/control for my sensibilities! Either as a DM or as a player.

;D

[coffee]

Jul 19, 2008 19:36:42 GMT -6 Rhuvein said:

Bah, I let/want the players to roll their abilities. I don't like too much DM tight-ass/control for my sensibilities! Either as a DM or as a player.

;D

I have to agree with this, totally.

Besides, the last time I ran D&D, I had much more fun watching the players' faces and hearing their lamentations when they rolled sevens or eights or whatever.

(None of which, of course, affected the game...)


But I have been amused by the other responses to this thread!

[codeman123]

i actually like to roll up characters with 7's and 8's gives me some flaws to play with.. i dont really understand the mentality that if i dont have all my stats above a 15 or whatever my character is useless.. thats what i really hate about the "new and improved" versions of the game is that high stats or a must because mechanically your character literally has to have them to survive... hate that.. ok meanwhile..

[Deleted]

Yeah, let the players roll their stats, DM has enough to do as it is.

[calithena]

I can't recall ever using this rule, but in addition to working against cheaters, it also allows the GM to fudge sets of rolls he/she deems 'boring'. (So the GM can be a 'cheater', I guess.)

It also gives an easy way for the GM to chase off dickwad players. "Oh, I'm sorry, another set with an 8 as your high score..."

Hmmm. Not really coming up with much useful here...

[Random]

For conventions/one-shots, I see absolutely no problem with the DM rolling the stats (or even completely making the characters).

For campaigns, the players should always roll them, but always with the DM present.

I have two or three friends I trust to roll stats away from me, but in general I prefer to watch. It's human nature to want to reroll that 3, and then come up with some stupid justification to yourself (oh, it wouldn't have been fun to play).

[Deleted]

I've never used this rule either. As a player, I'm happy playing a character whose highest stat is an 8...but I sure as all heck want to be the one who rolls it!!!

Now I do keep a few pre-gen characters for people who just want to "jump-in", or for other circumstances, but with OD&D character creation taking all of 5-10min. at the most, why not let them roll their own abilities?

I've thought about why this rule was even mentioned, & the closest I can come to is what kesher already stated previously: the DM is god. You're "born with" what the maker gave ya, but it's your choice as to what you do with it...

[Deleted]

Jul 25, 2008 15:35:17 GMT -6 Random said:

For campaigns, the players should always roll them, but always with the DM present.

Most definately agree with you.

[Deleted]

We never used this rule, not even from the first game. I always let the players roll up their own characters, but always with my dice in my presence.

ptingler check you pm's please