[TML] The Perfect Character Design

[Tom B]

>  And forcing people to play characters they hate doesn't benefit anybody.
>  Well, maybe those few GMs who actually *are* sadists.
>
>  Also, if you let people just keep rolling over and over, eventually they'll
>  get the characters with every stat amazing, the perfect career, etc.
>  Whereas a point buy system makes them choose what they really want most.

I almost won't play a character in a point buy system. I'm a character
evolutionist.

Everyone doesn't have to be the same, but I *despise*
build-what-you-want-in-all-detail systems.

>  Of course, there's another option: Buying the dice.  Say they want to have
>  good Strength, but don't care much about Intelligence.  So have a Low Roll,
>  an Average Roll, and a High Roll.  Maybe 2d6, 3d6, and 2d6+6.  Stats default
>  to Average (3d6), and for each one they bump up to High, they have to take
>  one as low.

That's not a bad compromise.

>  This is just an example, and the details depend on the system and how much
>  control you want to allow.

And all systems will not appeal equally to all players. Who are your
audience? That's probably the place to start.