Classless Skills & Powers: Ability Score Generation

Classless Skills & Powers
Ability Score Generation

Roll up ability scores as usual using any of the methods in the Skills & Powers handbook (pp.12-21). Use subability scores, or not, as you desire. Since there are no classes, any character may have exceptional strength. Only roll percentile for strength if the primary strength score is 18. Split subability scores can not exceed 18 unless the primary score is itself 18 or better.

Optionally, you can provide for character ability growth if using methods V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, or X. You have the player hold back some ability score points that are then applied as the character goes up in level later in play. The exact mechanic differs by generation method, but the DM should target about 9 "growth points" such that the character reaches his or her full potential around name level.

Method V (4d6 drop lowest):

Roll the first 3d6 and note that score. Then roll the additional d6. If the 4d6 drop lowest score is higher, that number is the character’s eventual potential in that score, but he starts at the 3d6 number. Each time the character levels, the DM allows the player to have one "growth point" to add to any of the character’s ability scores that is below its maximum. If the character has more than 9 points allocated to growth, allow them to add growth points to their 3d6 scores during character generation until they only have 9 growth points left.

Method VI (All scores start at 8 and 7d6 points are divided between them):

Hold back one d6 of the 7d6 (before rolling) as "growth points" to be allotted at one per level, assigned to any score the player desires (up to racial maximums).

Method VII (75 points, divide as you want):

Hold back 4-9 (1d6+3) points out of the 75 as "growth points," assigned one per level to any score as above.

Method VIII (24d6, assign as desired):

Hold back 2 of the d6 (before rolling) as "growth points," assigned one per level to any score as above.

Method IX (2d6 on the chart for number of points):

Hold back 4-9 points, just as in Method VII. Assign one point by level as above.

Method X (75 points):

Hold back 4-9 points, just as in Method VII. Assign one point by level as above.

Note that in Method V the scores that can grow during play are predetermined, but are not in methods VI-X. If you want all these methods to generate predetermined maximum scores, you can have the player pre-assign his growth points to get a set of maximum values just as in Method V.

These optional "growth methods" allow characters to begin as young, slightly above average people, and grow into their full power as they advance. This avoids making starting characters into ultra-powerful 16 year olds, while allowing players to customize the character according to their unique experiences and needs as the campaign progresses.

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