12 different ways to roll up your DnD character

The official Player’s Handbook in Dungeons & Dragon’s 5e offers two suggested ways of discovering your character’s six attributes. You can either assign points from a balanced array of numbers or roll 4d6 and drop the lowest dice.

The method is to create PCs who are likely to be a bit more notable than the average farmer.

There’s a surprising number of alternative ways to create your attributes. Here’s just a few that Geek Native have heard about. Can you add any more? Share the details in the comments below.

1. Roll 3d6 and assign the totals to your attributes in any order you want.
2. Roll 3d6 and assign the totals to your attributes in the order they come in.
3. Roll 4d6, drop the lowest in each roll and assign the totals to your attributes in the order they come in.
4. Roll 4d6, drop the lowest die in each roll and do it 8 times. Assign the best 6 totals to your attributes.
5. Roll 4d6, drop the lowest die and re-roll any total that is below 8. Assign the new totals to your attributes.
6. Roll 4d6, drop the lowest die and swap any total below 8 with an 8. Assign the new totals to your attributes.
7. Roll 4d6, drop the lowest die but reroll the entire collection if no total is above 15. Assign as required.
8. Roll 4d6, drop the lowest die and reroll the lowest total until the cumulative total value is over 70 (or 75, etc).
9. Roll 4d6, reroll 1s and drop the lowest die. Assign as required.
10. Roll 4d6, drop the lowest dice, reroll 1s but assign the totals in order (optionally switch two stats as a final touch).
11. Roll 4d6s, drop the lowest and assign as required however only one stat can be 16 or higher.
12. Roll 2d6+6 and assign as required.

The variations go on but have you tried anything substantially different? Did it work?

DMs should think carefully about this phase. Character stats can set the tone for the whole campaign. If you are generous with the rerolls and minimum levels then you will tend to end up with more heroic characters. If you are strict then players might not initially be able to create the characters they had in mind. This in itself may not be a bad thing but some players may feel challenged.

Image credit: Michael E Herndone, shared under Creative Commons.