A 3d6 attribute rolls and btb game is totally viable.

[slimykuotoan]

Totally. I'm playing in one now, and instead of battling e'erything to the end hack 'n slash style, we're being extra strategic.

And occasionally, we hide next to our horses in the reeds, as the bullywug patrol flip flops past.

The roleplaying went up for our group in fact.

[slimykuotoan]

Sorry, 'gig' patrol.

[Treebore]

I don't deny its "viable" its how I did my first 5 years of gaming. Just I've been there, done that, and am far happier doing anything but straight 3d6, play what you get. I much prefer playing what I want, not what luck dictates I get.

[mbeacom]

I'd say it's not only viable, it's a darn fun way to play. I was like Treebore, I played 3d6 for a lot of years. Then I felt like I moved beyond it, or found a more pleasurable way. But over time, I kind of came back around and realized some things I had kind of overlooked, or perhaps trivialized. In doing the "playing what I want is better than letting luck dictate", I did have a lot of fun. But something was missing. I realized that the D&D game itself is predicated on an awful lot of luck. And much of the fun of the game is not only accepting that randomness but embracing it. That is true of the d20 rolls to hit or check a skill or make a save and it's also true of how smart, strong, or agile our characters are. Our characters live and die based on the whim of luck. Did we roll a 1? A 20? Should we negate this chance so we can play what we want? Maybe, certainly some games do. Play what you want, not what luck dictates was a core design tenet of 4E for example, making the math much less susceptible to the luck of the dice. Putting more power in the hands of the player. Some games have eliminated the dice altogether using the same logic of getting to do what we want rather than be subject to the winds of chance. So, what works for you? 3d6? 4d6 drop 1? Roll 13 stats and pick 6? Really, anything beyond 3d6 is just a way to get the numbers higher, which you don't need dice to do. One way I liked years ago was 2d6+6. We even played a super powered campaign where we generated stats with 1d6+12. Each way sequentially reduced the whims of chance. We had a lot of fun with both. Nothing in the game broke.

I'm not a "one true way" gamer. I think we all need to find what works for us. We need to eliminate the right amount of chance and take the right amount of mechanical and narrative control. The OP, treebore and myself will all likely come down on different points in that continuum. None is more right than the other.

Me personally, I've really learned to appreciate the type of game that really only exists when we let the game rules (character generation, combat rules, etc) tell us what happens and we get to play out what that means. I also enjoy the counterpoint, where we the players tell the game what happens more, and use the dice less. Both are totally legit and more than viable.

I will say it's kind of sad that we've gotten to the point that saying "3d6 is viable" is even necessary.

[Arduin]

Of course its "viable". Many of usz played that way ~40 years ago and for years. Walking from L.A. to Phoenix is also "viable". It just isn't as fun for most as driving or flying.

[slimykuotoan]

Walking from L.A. to Phoenix is also "viable". It just isn't as fun for most as driving or flying.

Totally a matter of opinion.

I think 3d6 is a hoot.

[Captain_K]

Even with straight 18s you only have +3s... a one is still a fumble... and the CK usually ups the bad guys to match.. my main beef with 3d6 is all human in the world are on average 10.5 so "HEROES" and super villains and the like although they could be just average guys with lots of determination are many time way past average.. since this is a fantasy game with dwarves and magic and dragons.. well folks want their PCs to be a cut above.. I love playing PCs with a limp, with a low score, with an Achilles heel, but at the same time I want my wizard to be smarter than average... yeah you cold play a clumsy thief and have a great time at it and what the heck, its only a -2 or so to each ability and by third level he'd be as good as an average thief... but most folks don't WANT to play average... the game is for fun.. so have fun...

Things come and go, playing an average guy given the need to rise to the challenge is also truly heroic.. sounds like a plot for a movie.. we'll call him Bilbo... that all said, play what you want, play how you want, does it really matter? Have fun should be the order of the day..