What the Numbers Mean:
Now that you have finished creating the ability scores for your
character, stop and take a look at them. What does all this mean?
Suppose you decide to name your character "Rath" and you rolled the
following ability scores for him:
Rath has strengths and weaknesses, but it is up to you to interpret
what the numbers mean. Here are just two different ways these numbers could
be interpreted.
1) Although Rath is in good health (Con 13), he's not very strong
(Str 8) because he's just plain lazy--he never wanted to exercise as a youth
and now it's too late. His low Wisdom and Charisma scores (7, 6) show that
he lacks the common sense to apply himself properly and projects a slothful,
"I'm not going to bother" attitude (which tends to irritate others).
Fortunately, Rath's natural wit (Int 13) and Dexterity (14) keep him from
being a total loss. Thus, you might play Rath as an irritating,
smart-alecky twerp forever ducking just out of range of those who want to
squash him.
2) Rath has several good points--he has studied hard (Int 13) and
practiced his manual skills (Dex 14). Unfortunately, his Strength is low
(8) from a lack of exercise (all those hours spent reading books). Despite
that, Rath's health is still good (Con 13). His low Wisdom and Charisma
(7, 6) are a result of his lack of contact and involvement with people
outside the realm of academics.
Looking at the scores this way, you could play Rath as a kindly,
naive, and shy professorial type who's a good tinkerer, always fiddling
with new ideas and inventions.
Obviously, Rath's ability scores (often called "stats") are not the
greatest in the world. Yet it is possible to turn these "disappointing"
stats into a character who is both interesting and fun to play. Too often
players become obsessed with "good" stats. These players immediately give
up on a character if he doesn't have a majority of above-average scores.
There are even those who feel a character is hopeless if he does not have
at least one ability of 17 or higher! Needless to say, these players would
never consider playing a character with an ability score of 6 or 7.
In truth, Rath's survivability has a lot less to do with his
ability scores than with your desire to role-play him. If you give up on
him, of course he won't survive! But if you take an interest in the
character and role-play him well, then even a character with the lowest
possible scores can present a fun, challenging, and all-around exciting
time. Does he have a Charisma of 5? Why? Maybe he's got an ugly scar. His
table manners could be atrocious. He might mean well but always manage to
say the wrong thing at the wrong time. He could be bluntly honest to the
point of rudeness, something not likely to endear him to most people. His
Dexterity is a 3? Why? Is he naturally clumsy or blind as a bat?
Don't give up on a character just because he has a low score.
Instead, view it as an opportunity to role-play, to create a unique and
entertaining personality in the game. Not only will you have fun creating
that personality, but other players and the DM will have fun reacting to him.
Strength 8
Dexterity 14
Constitution 13
Intelligence 13
Wisdom 7
Charisma 6