# What would be your D & D stats? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 7, 2010, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-your-d-d-stats/535239 "2010-04-07T03:37:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Dan\_Norder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4af34b/32.png) [@Dan\_Norder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dan_Norder)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-your-d-d-stats/535239/101 "2010-04-14T16:45:57Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > But those 3d6 weren’t used for the general population. They were used for heroic adventurers with a built-in assumption that they were above average. So that’s 1 in 216 of heroic adventurers, not 1 in 216 of the human population. > > [Edit - I see I was beaten to it above!] You may have been beaten to it, but you’re wrong. People off the street did, in fact, roll 3D6 for their characteristics. Heroic adventurers typically rolled something like 5D6 and dropped the lowest two rolls, or some other even more beneficial method (the books offered a number of choices), and then got class levels on top of that, which is where all the good abilities actually came from. I know the thread is just a geek wank fest about fantasy entertainment, but come on. If you’re going to make arguments based upon a game’s stats, get the rules right. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-your-d-d-stats/535239/102 "2010-04-14T22:08:52Z")
> [@Dan\_Norder](#): > > People off the street did, in fact, roll 3D6 for their characteristics. Heroic adventurers typically rolled something like 5D6 and dropped the lowest two rolls, .. I know the thread is just a geek wank fest about fantasy entertainment, but come on. If you’re going to make arguments based upon a game’s stats, get the rules right. Ahem. Isn’t the standard notation to use a lower-case “3d6” or “5d6”? _D&R_ ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-your-d-d-stats/535239/103 "2010-04-14T23:39:57Z")
Maybe we could focus the discussion, take [this test](http://kevinhaw.com/add_quiz.php) and see what you get. The test isn’t great, but perhaps it’s better than ball parking. I got: 15 STR 13 INT 11 WIS 12 DEX 11 CON 12 CHA ---
**Author:** ![Whiteknight](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whiteknight/32/4962_2.png) [@Whiteknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whiteknight)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-your-d-d-stats/535239/104 "2010-04-15T14:08:08Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > Maybe we could focus the discussion, take [this test](http://kevinhaw.com/add_quiz.php) and see what you get. The test isn’t great, but perhaps it’s better than ball parking. Well according to that I’m: STR:15 INT:15 WIS:15 DEX:13 CON:12 CHR:13 ---
**Author:** ![BlinkingDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-your-d-d-stats/535239/105 "2010-04-15T14:30:26Z")
Interesting on that link above It says: Str 14 INT 15 Wis 14 Dx 17 Con 8 Char 8 Considering I pulled 13/13/14/14/7/7 out of my butt earlier…it matches pretty close. I Have to disagree with the Dx of 17 though…that seems high. Maybe I’d make a good thief…or a dextrous fighter 🙂 I’m also Lawful Neutral…that is most likely right. ---
**Author:** ![Jet\_Jaguar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jet_jaguar/32/3562_2.png) [@Jet\_Jaguar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jet_Jaguar)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-your-d-d-stats/535239/106 "2010-04-15T18:26:49Z")
From the links above, I’m: STR: 9 INT: 13 WIS: 16 DEX: 11 CON: 14 CHA: 8 Alignment: Neutral I guess I’d make a decent cleric. That would explain my ability to turn undead and my proclivity to bludgeoning people with blunt objects. I wish strength were keyed on squat or deadlift. I’m relatively stronger at those than bench, I’d probably be good for another point or two. Wisdom seems a little high, too. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-your-d-d-stats/535239/107 "2010-04-15T19:55:23Z")
> [@BlinkingDuck](#): > > Considering I pulled 13/13/14/14/7/7 out of my butt earlier…it matches pretty close. > > I Have to disagree with the Dx of 17 though…that seems high. Yeah, it’s not perfect, but I really do like one of the Wisdom questions, ‘Do you gamble?’. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-your-d-d-stats/535239/108 "2010-04-15T20:21:55Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Okay, let’s see… > > Strength: 10. Average for my size and age. > > Dexterity: 8. Kinda clumsy, especially when things are thrown at me. > > Constitution: 8. Got sick a lot whne I was a kid, but doing okay now. > > Intelligence: 13. Above average, but not greatly so. > > Wisdom: Umm… 10? Nothing great, but have lived for a while and learned by experience. On the other hand, I’m out of debt and not an axe murderer or anything. > > Charisma: 5. I’ll never be attracting princesses or anything, but I did okay answering questions at a trade show last week. The Kevin Haw site gave me: STR:11 INT:13 WIS:12 DEX:8 CON:7 CHR:5 Surprisingly close! It asked a lot of questions about physical endurance, which I hadn’t thought about. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-your-d-d-stats/535239/109 "2010-04-15T21:07:47Z")
From the site: STR 5 INT 13 WIS 12 DEX 13 CON 7 CHR 10 And the strength might be a 7. I haven’t checked in awhile. Is there a prestige class that would fit that? I googled a little and got Swashbuckler, but my CON is lower than they suggest. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-your-d-d-stats/535239/110 "2010-04-15T22:09:20Z")
[quote=“Sitnam, post:103, topic:535239”] Maybe we could focus the discussion, take [this test](http://kevinhaw.com/add_quiz.php) and see what you get. The test isn’t great, but perhaps it’s better than ball parking.\ Come on. The [second test](http://www.angelfire.com/dragon/terragf/back/xstattest.html) was a lot better. The first one was unsatisfying. Why do you think I took two? How can you take a test seriously that uses your education level as indicative of your base intelligence? Oh, and although it says it doesn’t work on “Netscape-based browsers”, it works fine in Firefox. I checked the code. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-your-d-d-stats/535239/111 "2010-04-16T04:16:04Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > How can you take a test seriously that uses your education level as indicative of your base intelligence? I agree completely, I have no doubt there are plenty of Amazon chieftains smarter than my undergraduate grad class. Though I will say perhaps its not unfair to grade how far one achieved in a particular subject. Masters in Geology = undergrad in Physics for instance. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-your-d-d-stats/535239/112 "2010-04-16T04:25:03Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > Though I will say perhaps its not unfair to grade how far one achieved in a particular subject. Masters in Geology = undergrad in Physics for instance. Ouch. Any geology majors call to make a saving throw? (Is that the right term? I’ve … never really played D&D) :o ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-your-d-d-stats/535239/113 "2010-04-16T06:45:05Z")
> [@Dan\_Norder](#): > > Rolling three six sided dice gets you a 16 or higher ~98% of the time. To get into Mensa you need to score in the 98th percentile or higher on an accepted IQ test. I point and laugh at your first sentence, and don’t rate your chances of getting into Mensa. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-your-d-d-stats/535239/114 "2010-04-16T08:42:48Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#): > > Nope. An 18 is in the mid 99th percentile, as ably illustrated by some of our mathematicians. Galileo would either have to suck it up and be lumped in with the rest of us mere genius-level IQs, or ask the GM to let him use a different rolling method. Remember that D&D ability scores top out at 25 (for editions with a maximum), not 18 - you just can’t roll them for a starting character. Galileo presumably has several levels in a non-adventuring class, so his “Math” and “Physics” rolls aren’t based on his raw stats but on his natural adds and a lot of skill points sunk into his favourite non-weapon proficiencies. > [@GargoyleWB](#): > > This is it, really. You indeed did create a schmoe off the street who would likely die from a 10 foot fall or a single wound from a weapon, but over time you could become an epic hero, even without that 18 statistic. > > D&D was structured so your legendary heroicness (coined a term!) was based primarily on level and gear. Character stats were a minor attribute compared to the other factors. Just owning a +3 or higher piece of gear mitigates almost any modifier loss you’d otherwise have. > > E.g. a 6th level fighter with STR 10 and CON 10 is going to effortlessly pummel a 1st level fighter with STR 18/00 and CON 18. True up to a point, but when you compare like with like then the guy with the stats kicks sand in the schmoe’s face eleven times out of ten. Consider two first-level fighters, one with the stats and one without. Against, say, a foe about AC6 (1st Ed), a 1st-level fighter hits 25% of the time - but with a +3 for STR, 40% of the time; that is, he’s hitting three times to the schmoe’s two. It’s much worse against an AC0 foe when the schmoe is hitting 5% of the time and the beefcake 20% - four times as often. Now give each of 'em the standard-issue long sword, average damage 4.5 points. The +6 damage modifier more than doubles damage - it’s worth a 133% increase! So Charles Atlas here is handing out just over three times as much hurt as Wally Weed, and to add insult to injury, he’s lasting 40% longer in combat too, assuming a kindly DM gives maximum hit points at first level. (If he doesn’t, the +4 CON bonus almost doubles the average of 5.5 to 9.5). At higher levels the advantage becomes less disproportionate, but you may as well figure that both characters are getting a fair share of any magic goodies - and by “fair” we mean “ignoring the fact that Muscleman is doing maybe four-fifths of the work”. Only when items like _girdles of giant strength_ or _gauntlets of ogre power_ come into play does the advantage of 18(00) strength finally dissipate. Similarly for other stats. A mage with high INT is learning a much wider variety of spells - a low INT mage can’t even look forward to any high-levels spells at all, as well as an excellent chance of spending the entire campaign not knowing _fireball_ or _lightning bolt_ because he blew his “Chance to Know” roll. A cleric with high WIS has a number of extra spells - he could have three spells to Joe Ordinary’s one at first level, and at 7th level he could still have 67% more spells than Joe, including an extra spell of the highest level. I could go on, but I think I’ve more than made my point. > [@ToeJam](#): > > Someone should gather the worst of us, and try to run a game with these paltry stats. I’d love to know if my character would even manage to survive a few encounters with nearly anything. > [@Autolycus](#): > > I’ve never played D+D (honest!), but I wouldn’t mind trying this. It sounds like fun, and I imagine dopers have good umm… imaginations. I’ll start a thread over in the Game Room and see if we get half a dozen takers. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-your-d-d-stats/535239/115 "2010-04-16T09:29:28Z")
Strength 14. In a room full of 200 or so people, I’m very likely to be the biggest. I have personally met maybe 10 people in my life taller than me, and maybe 30 or so stronger than me. Dexterity 9. I regularly hit my head on lamp fixtures. I stub my toes against stair steps. But, I’m really flexible and am probably the biggest person in the world who can still fit through a medium size dog door. Constitution 10. Average. I get sick, but usually get over it pretty quick. Intelligence 10. Average. I can learn more quickly than most people, but I forget things easily, and it’s harder for me to remember multi-step instructions than it is for an average person. Wisdom 6. I make bad decisions. I’m short sighted. I’m not at all disciplined. I have bad habits that I can’t break. Charisma 11. People usually like me. I’m not uncomfortable around strangers. I can work through stage fright. I can talk to girls. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-your-d-d-stats/535239/116 "2010-04-16T09:36:56Z")
The test results gave me the following: STR:15 INT:11 WIS:12 DEX:11 CON:13 CHR:16 not too bad! ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-your-d-d-stats/535239/117 "2010-04-16T16:45:41Z")
Not too bad, indeed. A sad lack of bonuses anywhere helpful, though in non-combat situations that general likeability would come in handy and you actually qualify as a 1st Ed druid, which might or might not be good news. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Omi\_no\_Kami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a88e4f/32.png) [@Omi\_no\_Kami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omi_no_Kami)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-your-d-d-stats/535239/118 "2010-04-17T09:18:14Z")
Self-assessed stats: Strength: 13 - I can carry heavy objects and help friends move with the best of 'em, but I don’t make a point of doing any strength training when I work out. Dexterity: 16 - I practice a few different martial arts, and used to dance quite a bit. I’m rotten at slight of hand, but I figure that’s because it isn’t as interesting as throwing people and being thrown around a mat. Constitution: 12 - I don’t get sick often, and I can live at high altitude for extended periods without ill effect. But I think getting socked in the gut once or twice might be more than enough for me to reconsider a fight. Intelligence: 17 - I’m pretty good at analytical stuff, and I managed to survive a massively mean-spirited PhD program. Also, after 7 years working in laboratories, when I get cut I freaking _bleed_ statistics. Wisdom: 9 - This is probably a bit low, but I tend to have a massively eccentric sense of humor, and I figure wisdom is the best place to couch that. Charisma: 11 - I’m a good conversationalist and a decent public speaker, but I won’t be winning any beauty contests. Quiz 1: STR: 7 DEX: 19 CON: 14 INT: 17 WIS: 17 CHR: 16 Quiz 2: STR: 12 DEX: 18 CON: 15 INT: 15/16 WIS: 15 CHA: 13 So assuming I nuke 2-3 stats for balance, I guess this points to my being a rogue, cleric, or monk. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-your-d-d-stats/535239/119 "2010-04-17T22:48:41Z")
> [@Autolycus](#): > > Ouch. Any geology majors call to make a saving throw? (Is that the right term? I’ve … never really played D&D) :o Yeah, people select Liberal Arts because they want to push the limits of the human understanding of Liberal Arts. Call me elitist if you want to but there were no Spicolis in my Differential Equations class. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-your-d-d-stats/535239/120 "2010-04-19T00:47:23Z")
Huh. According to the second test, I’m: STR: 7 DEX: 16 CON: 8 INT: 15 WIS: 16 CHA: 14 I’m kinda surprised at the high cha and wis, and the dex is out of line (I have great manual dexterity and do legerdemain and type ~80 wpm, but I can’t throw a baseball straight to save my life). But maybe I gave myself unreasonably positive answers on the questions, which would indicate a low wisdom. Or does this self-reflection indicate high wis? Hmmm… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-your-d-d-stats/535239.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-your-d-d-stats/535239.md?page=7)