
plantling |

Here is my crazy stat - rolling/drafting method.
Each player will roll up a set of stats - roll 4d6, drop the lowest, six times, keeping them in order for attributes (Str, Dex, Con, Int, Wis, Cha). I will collect the sets of stats from each player together to create a pool of strength scores, dex scores, con scores, etc.
Then, taking turns, we will draft our stats. Each player can take only one stat per category. Once everyone has selected one stat, we will reverse the order and pick the next. In this way, you will select each of your ability scores from a dwindling pool of scores. At some point, you will be left with no choice for some of your stats, but you must still draft a score on your turn to keep the order.
Example:
Player 1's stats:
4d6 ⇒ (1, 4, 4, 3) = 12 Str 11
4d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 2, 4) = 17 Dex 15
4d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 3, 4) = 11 Con 9
4d6 ⇒ (6, 4, 2, 3) = 15 Int 13
4d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 4, 2) = 17 Wis 15
4d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 6, 2) = 15 Cha 13
Player 2's stats:
4d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 6, 4) = 17 Str 15
4d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 6, 1) = 15 Dex 14
4d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 5, 2) = 13 Con 12
4d6 ⇒ (3, 6, 2, 1) = 12 Int 11
4d6 ⇒ (6, 4, 5, 3) = 18 Wis 15
4d6 ⇒ (3, 3, 2, 3) = 11 Cha 9
Player 3's stats:
4d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 5, 3) = 16 Str 13
4d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 2, 5) = 15 Dex 13
4d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 6, 3) = 21 Con 18
4d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 2, 4) = 15 Int 13
4d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 2, 5) = 14 Wis 13
4d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 2, 4) = 17 Cha 15
Player 4's stats:
4d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 6, 1) = 17 Str 16
4d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 1, 4) = 13 Dex 12
4d6 ⇒ (1, 4, 2, 1) = 8 Con 7
4d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 2, 5) = 13 Int 11
4d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 1, 1) = 8 Wis 7
4d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 1, 3) = 12 Cha 11
Stat array:
Str 11, 15, 13, 16
Dex 15, 14, 13, 12
Con 9, 12, 18, 7
Int 13, 11, 13, 11
Wis 15, 15, 13, 7
Cha 13, 9, 15, 11
Drafting (player number, ability score drafted;)
1 Con 18; 2 Str 16; 3 Cha 15; 4 Dex 15; 4 Str 15; 3 Dex 14; 2 Con 12; 1 Wis 15; 1 Cha 13; 2 Dex 13; 3 Con 9; 4 Int 13; 4 Wis 15; 3 Wis 13; 2 Int 13; 1 Str 13; 1 Int 11; 2 Cha 11; 3 Str 11; 4 Cha 9; 4 Con 7; 3 Int 11; 2 Wis 7; 1 Dex 12.
Resulting in
Player 1:
Str 13
Dex 12
Con 18
Int 11
Wis 15
Cha 15
Player 2:
Str 16
Dex 13
Con 12
Int 13
Wis 7
Cha 11
Player 3:
Str 11
Dex 14
Con 9
Int 11
Wis 13
Cha 15
Player 4:
Str 15
Dex 15
Con 7
Int 13
Wis 15
Cha 9
Stats are somewhat balanced, but still very organic. Player 1 is the cleric/druid with no bad stats really. Player 2 is the foolish fighter. Player 3 is the extra squishy sorceror. Player 4 is the dirty/diseased rogue.
To avoid underwhelming stats (and to make this more appealing as opposed to point buy), I would have players roll three sets of stats, toss out the lowest point-buy equivalent set, then do two drafts - one with each set. As DM, I would also roll two extra sets of stats and before we draft scores I would throw out the lowest score for each ability. Then I would draft stats for an NPC along with the PCs. The more sets of stats you roll, the more varied each ability will be within the party.

plantling |

Here is the first NPC set of stats:
Roll #1:
4d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 6, 1) = 18 Str: 17
4d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 3, 6) = 18 Dex: 15
4d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 1, 4) = 12 Con: 11
4d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 3, 5) = 16 Int: 14
4d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 5, 3) = 15 Wis: 13
4d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 3, 2) = 11 Cha: 10
Point buy equivalent: 37
Roll #2:
4d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 6, 4) = 14 Str: 12
4d6 ⇒ (6, 4, 6, 5) = 21 Dex: 17
4d6 ⇒ (6, 4, 6, 2) = 18 Con: 16
4d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 5, 4) = 16 Int: 15
4d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 2, 2) = 10 Wis: 9
4d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 4, 2) = 10 Cha: 9
Point buy equivalent: 37
Roll #3:
4d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 3, 2) = 12 Str: 10
4d6 ⇒ (1, 2, 2, 4) = 9 Dex: 8
4d6 ⇒ (3, 4, 2, 2) = 11 Con: 9
4d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 1, 6) = 13 Int: 12
4d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 2, 2) = 9 Wis: 7
4d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 6, 5) = 22 Cha: 17
Point buy equivalent: 20 (-1)
Keep set 1 and set 2, throw out set 3 (bye bye cha 17 :( )
In general, if the point buy equivalent is below 25, I'll probably let you replace it. Then again, two out of three times I got pretty amazing scores.
Okay, players, your turn:

DylanOrgeron |
roll 1:
4d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 3, 2) = 16 Str
4d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 1, 3) = 12 Dex
4d6 ⇒ (3, 3, 6, 2) = 14 Con
4d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 1, 6) = 13 Int
4d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 1, 4) = 10 Wis
4d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 1, 3) = 13 Cha
point buy equivalent:
roll2:
4d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 2, 4) = 10 Str
4d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 5, 4) = 15 Dex
4d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 4, 1) = 13 Con
4d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 4, 3) = 15 Int
4d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 6, 2) = 13 Wis
4d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 6, 1) = 15 Cha
point buy equivalent:
roll3:
4d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 5, 2) = 13 Str
4d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 6, 2) = 19 Dex
4d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 6, 1) = 16 Con
4d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 3, 5) = 18 Int
4d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 5, 4) = 17 Wis
4d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 3, 5) = 12 Cha

plantling |

Dylan's adjusted stats
roll 1:
Str 14
Dex 11
Con 12
Int 12
Wis 9
Cha 12
point buy equivalent: 22 - we'll throw this one out.
roll2:
Str 9
Dex 14
Con 12
Int 12
Wis 11
Cha 14
point buy equivalent: 24 - nothing amazing
roll3:
Str 11
Dex 17
Con 15
Int 15
Wis 14
Cha 11
point buy equivalent 41 - most impressive!
okay, who's next?

Big Goblin |

Here are mine:
roll 1:
6,5,3,3 Str
6,6,6,3 Dex
4,3,3,2 Con
5,4,3,1 Int
5,3,2,2 Wis
5,2,1,1 Cha
point buy equivalent:
roll2:
4,2,2,1 Str
6,4,3,3 Dex
4,4,4,3 Con
3,1,1,1 Int
5,5,4,1 Wis
5,3,3,2 Cha
point buy equivalent:
roll3:
5,2,2,1 Str
6,5,3,3 Dex
6,3,2,1 Con
6,5,4,3 Int
5,3,1,1 Wis
3,3,2,2 Cha
Well at least they started good.

Big Goblin |

roll 1:
4d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 4, 3) = 13 Str
4d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 1, 1) = 7 Dex
4d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 3, 2) = 11 Con
4d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 1, 4) = 13 Int
4d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 6, 4) = 17 Wis
4d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 1, 1) = 10 Cha
point buy equivalent:
roll2:
4d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 1, 4) = 12 Str
4d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 2, 4) = 10 Dex
4d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 3, 4) = 18 Con
4d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 2, 2) = 10 Int
4d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 5, 2) = 15 Wis
4d6 ⇒ (3, 4, 6, 3) = 16 Cha
point buy equivalent:
roll3:
4d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 6, 6) = 18 Str
4d6 ⇒ (4, 3, 1, 5) = 13 Dex
4d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 5, 6) = 18 Con
4d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 5, 5) = 18 Int
4d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 3, 5) = 14 Wis
4d6 ⇒ (3, 6, 2, 6) = 17 Cha

plantling |

NPC set #2:
roll 1:
4d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 2, 1) = 10 Str 9
4d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 1, 1) = 10 Dex 9
4d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 6, 6) = 20 Con 16
4d6 ⇒ (6, 4, 5, 3) = 18 Int 15
4d6 ⇒ (2, 6, 5, 6) = 19 Wis 17
4d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 2, 6) = 12 Cha 11
point buy equivalent: 36 terrific
roll2:
4d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 4, 4) = 11 Str 10
4d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 6, 6) = 16 Dex 15
4d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 4, 1) = 8 Con 7
4d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 2, 2) = 9 Int 7
4d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 6, 1) = 13 Wis 12
4d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 2, 5) = 16 Cha 14
point buy equivalent: 20 - 2 boo
roll3:
4d6 ⇒ (2, 6, 2, 3) = 13 Str 11
4d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 2, 2) = 14 Dex 12
4d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 1, 5) = 10 Con 9
4d6 ⇒ (3, 4, 1, 4) = 12 Int 11
4d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 2, 2) = 11 Wis 10
4d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 3, 2) = 16 Cha 14
point buy equivalent: 19 boo
Okay, we need more PC's!

Emrys |
roll 1:
4d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 4, 2) = 17 Str
4d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 6, 1) = 14 Dex
4d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 6, 6) = 21 Con
4d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 5, 5) = 22 Int
4d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 6, 1) = 17 Wis
4d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 2, 3) = 7 Cha
point buy equivalent:
roll2:
4d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 6, 5) = 21 Str
4d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 3, 2) = 12 Dex
4d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 1, 1) = 8 Con
4d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 5, 6) = 18 Int
4d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 2, 1) = 7 Wis
4d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 1, 2) = 11 Cha
point buy equivalent:
roll3:
4d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 5, 3) = 12 Str
4d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 2, 4) = 11 Dex
4d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 5, 3) = 12 Con
4d6 ⇒ (2, 6, 4, 4) = 16 Int
4d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 2, 3) = 12 Wis
4d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 5, 3) = 16 Cha

plantling |

Emrys' rolls:
roll 1:
Str 15
Dex 13
Con 17
Int 17
Wis 16
Cha 6
point buy equivalent: 49 - 2 Wow - that's just crazy.
roll2:
Str 17
Dex 11
Con 7
Int 16
Wis 6
Cha 10
point buy equivalent: 28 -3 interesting. . .
roll3:
Str 11
Dex 9
Con 11
Int 14
Wis 10
Cha 13
point buy equivalent: 20 - underwhelming
Now just one more player to go and we can start drafting. . .

plantling |

here's Mike's:
roll1:
4d6 - (6, 5, 2, 2) = 13 Str 11
4d6 - (5, 4, 6, 3) = 15 Dex 12
4d6 - (6, 3, 6, 1) = 15 Con 14
4d6 - (6, 6, 5, 2) = 17 Int 15
4d6 - (3, 2, 6, 1) = 11 Wis 10
4d6 - (6, 5, 1, 4) = 15 Cha 14
point buy equivalent: 29 - not bad
roll2:
4d6 - (4, 6, 5, 1) = 15 Str 14
4d6 - (6, 4, 3, 2) = 13 Dex 11
4d6 - (6, 6, 2, 6) = 18 Con 16
4d6 - (5, 2, 4, 6) = 15 Int 13
4d6 - (3, 6, 1, 1) = 10 Wis 9
4d6 - (6, 4, 6, 2) = 16 Cha 14
point buy equivalent: 31 - better
roll3:
4d6 - (6, 1, 5, 6) = 17 Str 16
4d6 - (4, 6, 2, 6) = 16 Dex 14
4d6 - (5, 6, 5, 1) = 16 Con 15
4d6 - (6, 6, 4, 5) = 17 Int 13
4d6 - (4, 5, 2, 6) = 15 Wis 13
4d6 - (6, 6, 6, 3) = 18 Cha 15
point buy equivalent: 42 - even better!
Now for the draft. Let me compile the scores for easier viewing. . .

plantling |

Choosing the best array from each person's rolls (including two NPC's), here are the stats grouped by attribute:
Strength: 17, 11, 16, 15, 9, 16
Dexterity: 15, 17, 12, 13, 9, 14
Constitution: 11, 15, 17, 17, 16, 15
Intelligence: 14, 15, 14, 17, 15, 13
Wisdom: 13, 14, 12, 16, 17, 13
Charisma: 10, 11, 15, 6, 11, 15
All very good scores. If we knock out the lowest score on each row, we get:
Strength: 17, 11, 16, 15, 16
Dexterity: 15, 17, 12, 13, 14
Constitution: 15, 17, 17, 16, 15
Intelligence: 14, 15, 14, 17, 15
Wisdom: 13, 14, 16, 17, 13
Charisma: 10, 11, 15, 11, 15
Nothing bad at all for these. So here's how we're drafting. First person picks one score from one category. When you pick your score, copy the entire block of scores and delete the one you picked. Example:
Player 1 wants to make a fighter, and so picks the strength of 17:
I pick str 17
here's what's left:
Strength: 11, 16, 15, 16
Dexterity: 15, 17, 12, 13, 14
Constitution: 15, 17, 17, 16, 15
Intelligence: 14, 15, 14, 17, 15
Wisdom: 13, 14, 16, 17, 13
Charisma: 10, 11, 15, 11, 15
next example,
I'll take dex 17. That leaves
Strength: 11, 16, 15, 16
Dexterity: 15, 12, 13, 14
Constitution: 15, 17, 17, 16, 15
Intelligence: 14, 15, 14, 17, 15
Wisdom: 13, 14, 16, 17, 13
Charisma: 10, 11, 15, 11, 15
First person to post next goes first and continue in order. I will pick scores for the NPC toward the end based on what it looks like the party is missing in terms of class/role or whatever is most optimal. The NPC needs to be effective too, so I will not be saving high scores for just the players - besides this NPC might become a new player's PC anyway.
The last person to pick will choose two attributes and then we will go back through in the reverse order picking one score at a time until we get back to the first person and then start again. You cannot choose two scores for the same attribute (no fair having two strength scores). You must pick something each turn even if you have only one choice. The order of drafting will look something like this:
123456654321123456654321123456654321. At the end everyone will have one number for each attribute. Sound good?

plantling |

Okay, I screwed up. Mike sent me scores for which he had already subtracted the lowest die and I accidentally subtracted again. So here is the new array of stats with Mike's adjusted scores:
Strength: 17, 11, 16, 15, 17
Dexterity: 15, 17, 12, 13, 16
Constitution: 15, 17, 17, 16, 16
Intelligence: 14, 15, 14, 17, 17
Wisdom: 13, 14, 16, 17, 15
Charisma: 10, 11, 15, 11, 18
That means with Big Goblin's choice of Int 17, we are left with
Strength: 17, 11, 16, 15, 17
Dexterity: 15, 17, 12, 13, 16
Constitution: 15, 17, 17, 16, 16
Intelligence: 14, 15, 14, 17
Wisdom: 13, 14, 16, 17, 15
Charisma: 10, 11, 15, 11, 18

plantling |

Looks like our NPC will be playing the "healer" role
NPC picks Wisdom 17
Now we reverse order
NPC picks Strength 17
We're looking at a cleric of Kord here, I think.
Back to Emrys
Here is what's left:
Strength: 11, 16, 15
Dexterity: 15, 12, 13, 16
Constitution: 15, 17, 17, 16, 16
Intelligence: 14, 15, 14, 17
Wisdom: 13, 14, 16, 15
Charisma: 10, 11, 15, 11

DylanOrgeron |
Well, i'll take charisma 11, and since there is only wisdom left for me to pick and one score left that leaves me out of the running for scores pretty much so 13 wisdom is what i'm getting and thats all mine. Why keep bothering with it if you know its your last score and you're the only one without one right?
So, That leave these...
Strength: 11
Dexterity:12
Constitution: 15
Intelligence: 14, 15, 14
Wisdom:
Charisma: 10

Kokoa Shuzen |

Well, i have only one stats missing and that's Strength! If you don't mind me jumping the gun, I'll take the remaining Strength (11).
So, That leave these...
Dexterity:
Constitution: 15
Intelligence: 14
Wisdom:
Charisma: 10
So Jamie, I'll e-mail you my concept of what I'm going to do... I also, need to chat with Big Goblin about something after I hear from Jamie.