2012-09-17 Determining Class

This is the algorithm to randomly determine a character’s class based on attributes. I used it for my SVG character sheet and my Halberds and Helmets house rules (like this).

=> SVG character sheet | Halberds and Helmets | like this

1. roll 3d6 in order

2. if Con ≥ 9 and best attribute is Str → dwarf

3. if Int ≥ 9 and either Str or Dex is ≥ 12 → 2/3 chance for elf (because of level limit)

4. if all of Str, Con and Dex are ≥ 9 and at least one of Str, Con and Dex is ≥ 12 → 2/3 chance for halfling (because of level limit)

5. if best attribute is Str or Con and at least two of Str, Con and Dex are ≥ 9 → fighter

6. if two of Str, Con and Dex are ≥ 12 → also fighter

7. if best attribute is Int → magic-user

8. if best attribute is Wis or Cha → 2/3 chance for cleric (because nobody likes to be a heal bot)

9. if best attribute is Dex → thief

10. if all else fails, choose a random human class (cleric, magic-user, fighter or thief)

Check out the some characters and some stats. Any suggestions on how to tweak the list?

=> some characters | some stats

(This was inspired by my old M20 Hard Core Character Generator and this very beautiful character generator by Ramanan Sivaranjan.)

=> this very beautiful character generator

Continued here: 2012-09-19 Determining Equipment.

=> 2012-09-19 Determining Equipment

​#RPG ​#Old School

Comments

(Please contact me if you want to remove your comment.)

⁂

Nice. I will add to Links to Wisdom.

– Jovial Priest 2012-09-17 13:58 UTC

=> Jovial Priest

Thanks!

I made a small change: “if best attribute is Str or Con → fighter” allowed a character with Str 8 (-1), Dex 8 (-1) and Con 12 (+0) to be a fighter. I think this character should be a cleric instead. So I changed the rule to say “if best attribute is Str or Con and at least two of Str, Con and Dex are > 8 → fighter” and I changed the default to cleric.

Another change I made: I felt that too many characters with fighter stats ended up as halflings. I felt that the level limits usually discourage more players and so I added a 50% chance to it.

Added hit-points and saving throws.

Coming up with something like Brendan’s equipment table should be next...

=> Brendan’s equipment table

And a little undead turning “chart” for clerics, maybe.

– Alex Schroeder 2012-09-18 07:38 UTC

=> Alex Schroeder