House Rule: Ability Score Generation

In light of recent events, WotC have decided to change the way that they're handling ability score adjustments for PCs. Specifically, they no longer want some races to be a better fit for some classes. Personally, I've never had a problem with this, but on the other hand I would also have much preferred to see racial ability score adjustments dropped with the advent of 5e, so I'm not particularly bothered by the change.

Unfortunately, I'm not at all keen on how they've chosen to implement it, so here is the alternative I'm considering adopting:

Note: In all cases, characters generated using these methods do not get the state ability score increases listed for their race. The whole point of these house rules is to eliminate those increases, after all!

Method 1: Random Roll

If you choose to random roll, you roll 4d6 and drop the lowest for each of your six ability scores, and then arrange these values to suit. In addition, you may choose a Feat for your character.

Two conditions:

1. If you choose to randomly roll your character's ability scores, you are expected to accept the results of the roll however the dice lie. Randomly rolled characters are, on average, slightly more powerful than those generated by other means (and have at least the possibility of starting with an 18), but at the risk of suffering lower results.
2. You are expected to play the resulting character in good faith. No suiciding the character!

Method 2: Standard Array

If you wish to use the standard array, check the table below and select the array listed for your character's race and/or subrace. Arrange those values to suit.

Note that if you choose to use the standard array you must use those values exactly as listed. Characters with the standard array are nominally slightly more powerful than those generated via point buy, but this comes at the cost of losing flexibility.

Method 3: Point Buy

If you wish to use point buy, check the table below to get a number of points to spend for your character's race and/or subrace. You may then spend these points according to the costs given in the following table:

Score	Cost		Score	Cost
8	0		13	5
9	1		14	7
10	2		15	9
11	3		16	12
12	4		17	1

"Variant" Characters

If you prefer, you may accept a lower set of starting attributes in exchange for some additional Racial Traits.

To create a variant character, select either Method 2 (Standard Array) or Method 3 (Point Buy). Consult the table below for the array or point buy allowance for Variant characters. Additionally, variant characters generated using Method 3 are limited to a maximum ability score of 16.

In addition, variant characters gain the following traits:

• Feat: You gain one feat of your choice.
• Skill: You gain proficiency in one skill of your choice.

Main Table

The table below shows the standard array and point buy allowances for each race and/or subrace, as well as those used for variant characters:

Race	Standard Array	Point Buy	Variant Array	Variant Point Buy
Half-elf, Human, Mountain Dwarf	17, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8	38	16, 15, 14, 13, 10, 8	32
All others	17, 15, 14, 12, 10, 8	35	16, 15, 13, 12, 10, 8	30

A Quick Note on Table Construction

The point buy costs for scores of 16 and 17 were derived by extending the relevant table from the PHB - the rule seems to be that going from score N to N+1 costs a number of points equal to the modifier of the new score, with a minimum of 1.

The point buy allocations for the various races were then initially generated by assuming the most efficient allocation of the bonuses and working backwards. This was then rounded to reduce the number of entries. Essentially, though, if a race or subraces granted a +2 and a +1, or three +1s, this gave a value of 35 points; if a race or subrace granted two +2s, a +2 and two +1s, or six +1s then this gave a value of 38 points. The variant allocations represent the reduction of of the variant human from six +1s to two.

Finally, the standard arrays represent a point buy value of 40 points for humans, 35 for variant humans, 37 for most other races, and then 32 points for variants of those races. This represents a small increase in nominal power, but comes at the cost of flexibility - that is why characters who use the standard array must use it exactly as presented.