Initial attribute combination options

[pjrogers]

Is there a nice quick and dirty summary of all the attribute combinations available for 1st level characters? I tried to search for such an overview but wasn't able to find anything.

Is the following possible for a human character to have the following initial attribute distribution?
Str 10
Dex 16
Con 10
Int 10
Wis 14
Cha 18

[David knott 242]

I think the step of adding +2 to each of 4 stats would prevent that combination for a human character. A non-human could pull it off if one of the stats set to 10 is his ability flaw.

[Lyee]

Start with 18/16/14/12/10/8 for nonhumans, or 18/16/12/12/10/10 for humans.

From there you can move 2 points to a lower attribute freely, as often as you like.

As long as you don't go below the minimums of your race/class/background, that method should get you all arrays.

[Gaterie]

It's not that simple for non-humans: each race gives +2 to a mental attribute and +2 to a physical attribute; hence you can't get +2 Str +2 Dex +2 Con from racial bonus.

In other words: a stat array of Str 18 Dex 16 Con 14 isn't possible.

(and there are other limitations as well: an elf can't have more than Con 14, a goblin rogue can't have more than Wis 14, no one can have more than 16 in a non-key ability for his class, etc)

(example: you want to play a goblin Fighter and you want Str 18 Dex 16; in that case, your max Con is 12, your max Wis is 12 as well; you can use a 18-16-14-10-10-10 array, but the 14 can't be Con nor Wis).

[David knott 242]

Gaterie wrote:

(and there are other limitations as well: an elf can't have more than Con 14, a goblin rogue can't have more than Wis 14, no one can have more than 16 in a non-key ability for his class, etc)

You can get 16 in the ability score that is your racial ability flaw if you select it for your floating ancestry bonus (which you are allowed to do). Then you have a net +0 from ancestry, +2 from background, +2 from class, and +2 from one of the four floating bonuses for a total of 16.

[Lyee]

Gaterie wrote:

It's not that simple for non-humans: each race gives +2 to a mental attribute and +2 to a physical attribute; hence you can't get +2 Str +2 Dex +2 Con from racial bonus.

In other words: a stat array of Str 18 Dex 16 Con 14 isn't possible.

(and there are other limitations as well: an elf can't have more than Con 14, a goblin rogue can't have more than Wis 14, no one can have more than 16 in a non-key ability for his class, etc)

(example: you want to play a goblin Fighter and you want Str 18 Dex 16; in that case, your max Con is 12, your max Wis is 12 as well; you can use a 18-16-14-10-10-10 array, but the 14 can't be Con nor Wis).

Yes, my method doesn't tell you where you can put those numbers, only the 'shape of arrays' you can get. You still have to pick the right class/race/background to 'fill in' that shape.

[Gaterie]

David knott 242 wrote:

Gaterie wrote:

(and there are other limitations as well: an elf can't have more than Con 14, a goblin rogue can't have more than Wis 14, no one can have more than 16 in a non-key ability for his class, etc)

You can get 16 in the ability score that is your racial ability flaw if you select it for your floating ancestry bonus (which you are allowed to do). Then you have a net +0 from ancestry, +2 from background, +2 from class, and +2 from one of the four floating bonuses for a total of 16.

No class has Con as its key ability; hence elves can't have Con 16, ever.

Spoiler:

This is obvious for elves, since no class grants +2 Con; but this usually apply to the other racial flaws: usually, you don't choose a race/class combo with a racial flaw is the class' key ability. But you're technically right, a goblin cleric can have Wis 16 and a gnome fighter can have Str 16.

Lyee wrote:

Yes, my method doesn't tell you where you can put those numbers, only the 'shape of arrays' you can get. You still have to pick the right class/race/background to 'fill in' that shape.

It's not a simple question of "picking the right class/race/background": it's not possible to have Str 18 Dex 16 Con 14, whatever your choices are.

If you prefer, the shape of the array is more (18-16-12)-(14-10-8) or something like that than a straight "put 18-16-14-12-10-8 as you want, then search for the appropriate combo".

[Kringress]

pjrogers wrote:

Is there a nice quick and dirty summary of all the attribute combinations available for 1st level characters? I tried to search for such an overview but wasn't able to find anything.

Is the following possible for a human character to have the following initial attribute distribution?
Str 10
Dex 16
Con 10
Int 10
Wis 14
Cha 18

No because of the ABC rule.

Ancestry: +2, +2
Background: +2, +2
Class: +2
Bonus: +2, +2, +2, +2
so the best you can have is
18 ABC +2
16 AB +2
12 +2
12 +2
10
10

Or

18 ABC +2
14 A +2
14 B +2
12 +2
10
10

[pjrogers]

Thanks, all this has been very helpful.