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9 months ago ::
Sep 06, 2012 - 1:56PM
#71
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It's because TTRPGs completely emulate what they do for a living. They start out having an idea (Character concept), and then find ways to get the math to support said idea. 
Which is why I find running games where one of my players is a Math teacher, a little frightening. On his turn he would calculate the exact distance and angle from where he was to the target. He would write these down on the grid, the whole calculation. So by the end of the combat you could follow his movements by where the calculations were written.
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9 months ago ::
Sep 06, 2012 - 6:27PM
#72
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Date Joined:
May 18, 2002
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Hey, at least he didn't completely reverse-engineer 2nd Edition. I actually did that once, just to get every 2E dragon playable in Council of Wyrms.
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9 months ago ::
Sep 07, 2012 - 3:54AM
#73
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Hey, at least he didn't completely reverse-engineer 2nd Edition. I actually did that once, just to get every 2E dragon playable in Council of Wyrms.
Heh, what can one say? Theyr interesting math problems.
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9 months ago ::
Sep 07, 2012 - 7:28AM
#74
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Date Joined:
Jan 14, 2006
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I'm sure it has been mentioned elsewhere, but anyway... In a 4e point-buy system, the playtest array is worth 17 points. So I allow any other 17 points array. For those who don't have access to the DDI ability score generator tool (IF it's tied to DDI, I don't want to check right now), here is another online point-buy tool: www.asmor.com/scripts/4eAbilityScores/in...
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9 months ago ::
Sep 08, 2012 - 2:07AM
#75
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Date Joined:
Apr 16, 2009
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Random? I'll bring 6 substantially different characters with point-buy attributes and let the DM roll a d6 to see which one I play. Is that random enough? I can throw out character concepts like crazy, but I've never yet had one inspired by a set of D&D attribute scores.
Now here are the level-1, pre-racial attribute of several 4E characters I've built and either played or want to play. Remember, these are 4E not 5E and I am not suggesting them verbatim for 5E.
18 14 11 10 10 8
17 16 11 10 10 8
17 15 13 10 10 8
16 16 12 10 10 10
16 15 13 13 10 8
16 14 14 13 10 8
Looking at these and how I used them, I see four potential standard arrays: specialist, dual, dual-secondary, dual-tertiary. I don't see balanced. Sure, throw it in for those who want it...
But frankly, if point buy is available I'll never even look at the standard arrays.
"The world does not work the way you have been taught it does. We are not real as such; we exist within The Story. Unfortunately for you, you have inherited a condition from your mother known as Primary Protagonist Syndrome, which means The Story is interested in you. It will find you, and if you are not ready for the narrative strands it will throw at you..." - from Footloose
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8 months ago ::
Oct 11, 2012 - 11:33AM
#76
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Date Joined:
Aug 20, 2007
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I don't suppose anyone has considered using the Random Number function in Microsoft Excel to generate random dice rolls.
My DMs are rather persnickety about everything being truly 'random' even to the point of grumbling if I do not make sure that the d20 spins several times before it stops.
Anyway, my adaptation of the Random Number function that will generate numbers in the sequence { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6} is
=(INT( 6 * RAND() ) +1)
in Excel-speak, this means generate a random number between 0 and 1,
then multiply that number by 6,
then chop off the decimal part,
then add 1 to the result.
Excel also has a SUM function and a MIN function to sum up the highest three out of four d6 rolls.
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8 months ago ::
Oct 11, 2012 - 11:57AM
#77
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Date Joined:
Sep 26, 2012
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Well computer generated numbers are not random. So if your group is really frustrated by the d20 not rolling a couple turns, they should probably get upset by pseudorandomness (although they may not). However, it is probably a better approach than allowing players to roll their own dice in private. I'm playing in a game where everyone rolled their stats in private and I'm the only player without a natural 18. Just slightly suspect but a natural thing for players to do. The excel randomness might be more fair.
I thought point buy was great when I first saw it, but ultimately I think I like the array better. Keeps certain players from havine some silly stats. However, I've also enjoyed rolling for the rp that it adds. It may not change my mind on what I play, but it definitely adds some rp opportunity.
So last playtest we did rolls and then you could take the array if you hated the rolls.
Currently running a playtest, weekly, online D&D Next Session using a virtual table system called roll20.
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8 months ago ::
Oct 14, 2012 - 6:10PM
#78
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Date Joined:
Jun 24, 2005
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I go with pick race 3d6 drop the lowest, pick class 2d6. Yaaaa know???
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8 months ago ::
Oct 19, 2012 - 9:35PM
#79
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I go with pick race 3d6 drop the lowest, pick class 2d6. Yaaaa know???
Explain more?
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8 months ago ::
Oct 20, 2012 - 3:36PM
#80
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Date Joined:
Jun 24, 2005
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I go with pick race 3d6 drop the lowest, pick class 2d6. Yaaaa know???
Explain more?
^^ I botched that. Its more complex
The main thing I try to accomplish with character creation is a simulation of life and choice.
You pick race first. I'll offer 20 gold to any player that wants to roll on race and even include a monster class as one option. I'll think of 19 playable races, then roll a 1d20. On 20 you roll in the monster manual.
What I meant above was 2d6 drop the lowest pick class 1d6. What I would normally do is let someone point buy with a weighted number however with the way ability score points are given every four levels it defeated the purpose. The weighted ability score was based on a 2d6 roll. So 2-12 can be added to any score though its weighted so going from 17 to 18 cost 3 points and 16 to 17 cost 2. I found that scores were still low so I added a 1d4 before the point buy. In theory rolling for stats before selecting class prevents a party of min/max stereotypes, dropping one roll makes loser character rare, and point buying allows for roleplaying and more focused characters. So I combine all three. Im just not sure exactly how I'll do it in Next. I'm assuming with the the 20 point cap there will be no improvements every four lvls so I want to point buy. I'm thinking about 2d6 drop lowest add race benefits, pick class 1d4, then 2d6 for a weighted point buy total.
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