tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-392427526916288536.post1952749674964872818..comments2024-03-25T00:18:14.319-07:00Comments on Against The Wicked City: Sophie the Muscle Wizard and the joys of random character generationJoseph Manolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05387275537008858939noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-392427526916288536.post-68400438716016921572017-02-17T18:25:39.357-08:002017-02-17T18:25:39.357-08:00What I've done in the past when using strict 3...What I've done in the past when using strict 3d6 in order is have each player generate three characters. They keep one, hand one to the player on their left, and hand one to the player on their right. Then each player gets to keep one to use and one as their first backup character, and the third character gets handed to the DM for use as an NPC. It serves a few purposes:<br />1. A hot set of dice doesn't cause as much jealousy if a good set of stats gets handed to another player<br />2. Likewise, a dismal set of stats can be discarded by giving it to the DM<br />3. It gives the DM partially pre-made NPCs, which is always niceStephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17718188146918003275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-392427526916288536.post-69216072255503197432017-02-17T04:14:45.755-08:002017-02-17T04:14:45.755-08:00I'm a big softy I let the players roll 3d6 in ...I'm a big softy I let the players roll 3d6 in order 7 times. Any two scores can be swapped and the extra roll is dropped. It allows a bit of customization but mostly the dice have their say and not every score is a good one (or even average). JDsivrajhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10674833512849495283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-392427526916288536.post-84114571891425894682017-02-17T01:41:40.881-08:002017-02-17T01:41:40.881-08:00Yeah, that's perfectly reasonable. As are the ...Yeah, that's perfectly reasonable. As are the various 'raise one stat by lowering another' rules found in early editions of the game. Strict 3d6-in-order is mainly suitable for a game where part of the point is seeing how a crew of mismatched oddballs somehow manage to survive in a hostile world...Joseph Manolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05387275537008858939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-392427526916288536.post-83011187653350374442017-02-17T01:39:45.201-08:002017-02-17T01:39:45.201-08:00But, on the plus side, you had an excellent excuse...But, on the plus side, you had an excellent excuse for making use of your thieving skills!Joseph Manolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05387275537008858939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-392427526916288536.post-59883896054561259172017-02-17T01:38:39.962-08:002017-02-17T01:38:39.962-08:00Like I say, it does lend itself easily to comedy. ...Like I say, it does lend itself easily to comedy. That's fine for the Team Tsathogga game, which doesn't take itself too seriously at the best of times, but you'd need to keep a tight reign on it in more serious games. <br /><br />I think you could run a serious game with completely random character generation - in fact, in some ways, I think it might be easier to run such a game with flawed, human characters than with a bunch of off-the-peg paragons - but you'd need to make sure your players were on the same page. The same stats which produced Sophie and Jack could be read in much sadder and more serious ways, but for most players that's not going to be their first response!<br /><br />And, yes, there are lots of games that I wouldn't use totally random character generation for. Anything properly heroic, for a start...Joseph Manolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05387275537008858939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-392427526916288536.post-27986190139394585262017-02-16T15:37:09.030-08:002017-02-16T15:37:09.030-08:00I've been having my players roll 3d6 in order ...I've been having my players roll 3d6 in order with the option of swapping two stats; if the player had a certain class in mind, this allows the player to at least not suck at it (hopefully!) by swapping their highest roll into their "primary" stat, while still preserving most of the good things you point out above. Players without a desire for a particular class can, of course, simply look at the rolled stats and choose a class based on them, too.Magushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04807974921087213718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-392427526916288536.post-56062033959384729532017-02-16T12:35:56.632-08:002017-02-16T12:35:56.632-08:00I also remember rolling for starting money. I onc...I also remember rolling for starting money. I once rolled up an ad&d human thief with 20 gp. After buying armor and supplies I realized I didn't have enough for a weapon.Darnizhaanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15005189125696185700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-392427526916288536.post-48064000364782817132017-02-16T11:14:55.030-08:002017-02-16T11:14:55.030-08:00Nice write up. I've never used "3d6 in or...Nice write up. I've never used "3d6 in order", but I've always liked the idea. As you say it does seem like it would create vastly more interesting/flawed characters.<br /><br />But what effect do you think this has on the tone at your table? Does having a muscle wizard skew the mid too much? Asked another way, can you think of a game you would want to run that this wouldn't be appropriate? Connor W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13152164902819709334noreply@blogger.com