[infinity]

I am sure that this post has been up, at least 5 times a week, but I'd like to know how all the dms work stats.

[BrotherMouran]

By 'doing stats' I am asssuming you mean how do different DM's have their players roll up their characteristics for their characters. If that is not the case, please excuse this post.

As a DM, I have always followed the basic belief that the PC heroes are exceptional examples of their kind. Because of this, I generally expect PC's to have above average stats. My preferred method of character generation is as follows:

Players are given a choice; they may either roll up to 5 complete sets of stats using 4d6 (and dropping the lowest die from each roll) OR roll up 1 set using 5d6 (dropping the two lowest). Whichever method is chosen, players may then organize the stats in the order of their choosing.

Interestingly enough, in my current (though on hiatus at the moment) campaign, all the players opted for the 4d6 sets; once they were done, just for the sake of seeing how things might have turned out, I had them try the 5d6 method. All of them would have done better with the latter method, though not by much.

[Shadow_Wolf]

my very first tim as a DM I had everyone roll only one D6 per stat. the other two dice were atomatic 6's. neadles to say i have never don that again. now I have players roll 4d6 per stat droping the losest die. If you are unhappy with the results, you may roll another set.
and BTW I was the only one in Brother Mouran's campaign that did not roll the experimental 5d6 method after charicter creation

[Rintaran]

I too have my characters roll 4d6 for their ability scores. However, I added one minor rule which has made a world of difference. I figure that everyone has a flaw of some type or another, so unless they managed to roll a stat of 9 or less (very rare for some reason) they must reduce one stat to 9.

Also, before they roll up their characters, I prefer to see their characters history ideas, as this may modify some of their skills and what-not. Ie one of my characters has an extra finger on each hand, that'd be a bonus to climb walls, but would give something of a penalty to diguise.

[Overlord]

I give my players the choise of rolling 5d6 with no re-rolls, or 4d6 with 2 re-rolls. If the scores are too low, i let them roll again. after all, a PC in dnd is exceptional, and if the scores arelow, then they aren't.

[Shadow_Wolf]

I also have reintroduced perception and comliness stats from 1st edition.

[Overlord]

what are perception and comliness stats?

[Shadow_Wolf]

in my campagin they are the 7th and 8th abillity stats. perception is used as the base for all of the searching type skills. and comliness is how good you look. it is a superfital stat but it never made sence to me for charisma to be used for both dealing with people and physical attrativness. there are some ugly people with a high charisma. and some beutiful people with a low charisma.

[Rintaran]

How true! I might have to adopt those.

[Overlord]

wha hey! I think that I might use that! it makes an awful lot of sense!

[scot]

The group that I play in have used two different methods of handling player stats - interestingly enough both are point systems, one we created during our run with 2nd edition and the other is 3rd edition.

Back in our days of 2nd edition the DM's involved used a simple 1 for 1 point system where your total was somewhere between 72-87. The maximum total was decided before character creation and fluctuated between DMs.

Our current stint has me behind the screen and I was looking to move back towards the core books and decided to use the point system as outlined in the DMG - 32 points total.

[infinity]

Our group has a really weird...and i think stupid way of doing it. First for each of the stats you assign a 1-6, 3 times, although you cannot have a stat higher then 16 (unless for racial reasons).

Of course i find this a little stupid...it always ends up that are characters are irregularily flawwed, and weaker then most...but oh well.

[Cuilean]

The current home group had a choice:
1) 1:1 point purchase with 95 points spread over seven stats (Comeliness being the extra).
2) Best of three sets of 4d6, drop lowest, reroll one lowest die.

Only one player opted to roll, and his total was *very* close to 95 points.

Mathematically, both average out around 13.6 per ability. Characters are exceptional, but not "munchkin" exceptional.

[MasterSreg]

I'm not usre what I'll use for my upcoming campaign. Perhaps I'll use the ole relieable 4d6 method. Any alternate suggestions are welcome, because this will be one of the player's first campaign.

[Darius]

ive always used 4D6 and drop the lowest then let the Players put them where they will.That way they have to work with what theyve got.some of the best characters ive ever seen have had some crap stats.

D