[D&D] Alternate Ability Score Generation

[zakarntson]

Note that I have no idea how character generation has been changed in D&D 4e, so this post may be rendered moot next month. But not yet![Edit] Here's a quote from the most recent Wizards 4e preview. Turns out they haven't fixed it. At least they've made a note of it.Ability Scores: Your character race gives you a bonus to a particular ability score or two. Keep these bonuses in mind when you assign your ability scores.


My biggest beef with character generation (aside from fiddly skills, which has been fixed) is that the rules indicate the following method:

1. Roll ability scores. Assign them how you'd like (presumably to fit within your character concept).
   
2. Choose race, adjust ability scores.
   
3. Choose class based on these ability scores.

But who does this? If you're at all trying to build an effective character, your decision-making looks more like this:

1. Pick race/class combination
   
2. Roll initial ability scores
   
3. Figure out where the ability scores would best go based on race modifiers and class features, trying to:
   
   • prevent a class-preferred score from being dropped too low,
     
   • bump up desired scores, and.
     
   • offset low scores using racial adjustments.

Seriously, huh? This means you roll your ability scores and then perform some back-and-forth calculating to finish your character. Here's a possible solution:

1. Pick race/class combination
   
2. Each race modifier is considered a +1d or -1d
   
3. Roll your ability scores (in order) as 4d6 +/- race modifier, keep the highest three dice.
   
4. If class-preferred score isn't at least 13, bump it up to 13.
   
5. While you have more than one ability score with a negative modifier, add 1d6 to the lowest score.

For example, if you pick an Elf Wizard:

• Str: 4d6
  
• Dex: 5d6
  
• Con: 3d6
  
• Int: 4d6 (min 13)
  
• Wis: 4d6
  
• Cha: 4d6

Or let's say you want a Half-Orc Fighter:

• Str: 5d6 (min 13)
  
• Dex: 4d6
  
• Con: 4d6
  
• Int: 3d6
  
• Wis: 4d6
  
• Cha: 3d6

That's it!