Topic: Two main abilities for a character class

I am creating a random character table where you roll d100 to get pre-rolled abilities and character class. So with one roll you can determine both all six abilities and a class/race.

Creating random abilities is easy but what would be a rule of thumb what class that character could be? I was thinking a system where I pick two highest abilities and base the character class on those.

But what are the main abilities for each of the class and race? I need some guidelines to logically determine the class. I noticed I started making too many Fighters and M-Us and only few other classes.

Note: Another option is to roll class and abilities separately, so you could get randomly stupid but strong M-U or weak but intellect Fighter smile

Thanks for the help in advance!

"Man has come to dominate the planet thanks to two essential traits. One is intelligence. The other has been the absolute willingness to kill anyone and anything that gets in his way." (Stephen King)
My blog: cradleofrabies.blogspot.com

Re: Two main abilities for a character class

I have actually already come up with a system for this! I wanted to write a program for generating random NPCs, and ran across the same problem! Here's the method I used:

So, first I organize the classes by which is most common vs. least common. This is my interpretation (starting from most): fighter, specialist, cleric, magic-user, halfling, elf, dwarf.

Next, I figure out the most important stat for each class (singular stat, except for races, which get two). Fighter = strength, specialist = dex, cleric = wisdom, magic-user = intelligence, halfling = dexterity/wisdom, elf = strength/intelligence, dwarf = strength, constitution.

In order to "qualify" for the class, you have to have at least 13 in all relevant stats (to be a M-U, you have to have at least 13 int). If you don't qualify for any based on this system, you just get to be a shitty fighter.

It's also possible that you qualify for multiple classes, so there has to be some class that "trumps" another one. Firstly, race trumps human classes, since they have more prerequisites (e.g. 14 str, 13 int, 16 wis would create an elf, not a cleric). However, there will still be more ties, and this is where the list of most common classes comes in. If you meet the prerequisites for two classes, choose the more common one. Cleric beats magic-user, specialist beats cleric, fighter beats specialist, elf beats dwarf, halfling beats elf, etc.

Hope this helps!

Re: Two main abilities for a character class

While this is not what you were asking for, you may find it interesting as an example of a random character generation table. This one does not generate attributes, but it does generate a lot of detail.

http://www.swordsandwizardry.com/grimnpcgenerator.pdf

Re: Two main abilities for a character class

Hey Giordanisti I like that system of yours. I have to give it a good thinking, but it seems to be quite logical.

Galahed de Corbenic, I will check that PDF when I got more time.

"Man has come to dominate the planet thanks to two essential traits. One is intelligence. The other has been the absolute willingness to kill anyone and anything that gets in his way." (Stephen King)
My blog: cradleofrabies.blogspot.com

Re: Two main abilities for a character class

It sounds like your using random character generation to create a bunch of pregens then putting those pregens on a d100 table. If I was making a table like that I would not roll for the pregen characters at all, I would make up whatever stat lines that I wanted and then put them on the table. And I would do an equal amount of fighters, MU's, Clerics, thieves etc.

What are you going to use this chart for?

Re: Two main abilities for a character class

I have a random character generator that spits out D&D characters. The distribution of characters is even between the 4 human classes (80%) and the all of the demihuman classes (20%). That's in the long run, if you run the generator a million times. If you did it 100 times it'd probably be close, but that'd be more variance.

Here's a table with 100 character classes and their stats, using that code: https://gist.github.com/4120563

Re: Two main abilities for a character class

Bluespruce786 wrote:

It sounds like your using random character generation to create a bunch of pregens then putting those pregens on a d100 table.

Yes, I do d100 random abilities but I don't use any random chargen. I roll the dice using dicelog. 3d6 x 6 so I get results I put on the table for one character. I randomly roll abilities.

I would make up whatever stat lines that I wanted and then put them on the table.

Too much work to just put numbers there. Also that's not random at all in my opinion. Also it's easier to roll 3d6 in order and record the results.

And I would do an equal amount of fighters, MU's, Clerics, thieves etc.

Why? What people have said in this topic it makes sense that some character classes (demi-humans for example) are rarer than others. But I'd like to hear your reasoning. Also in my games demi-humans are rarer than human classes so it makes sense for me.

What are you going to use this chart for?

Don't know. If for some reason I need several stats quickly I can roll 1d100 per character instead of rollind 3d6 in a row. That comes handy if for some reason I quickly need tons of characters tongue Also if for some reason I need stats for NPC it's faster to roll those this way than 3d6 in order.

But I also make this for fun. I like creating small little things and I like recording numbers with Excel while I drink beer and listen to music.

"Man has come to dominate the planet thanks to two essential traits. One is intelligence. The other has been the absolute willingness to kill anyone and anything that gets in his way." (Stephen King)
My blog: cradleofrabies.blogspot.com