I just finished listening to the latest Tome show episode and it reminded me of the old 1e and 2e restrictions on classes based on ability score rolls. I had forgotten about this and the game has moved on from this restriction. But I thought it may actually be a good optional rule. It would force people to play characters they wouldn’t normally play and to be creative with what they get. So here is an option for using those old rules with the 5e PHB classes. I expect my players would hate it but I may try this next game – along with some 1e psionic options.
| CLASS | STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
| Barbarian | 15 | 14 | 15 | – | <16 | – |
| Bard | 15 | 15 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 15 |
| Cleric | – | – | – | – | 10 | – |
| Druid | – | – | – | – | 12 | 15 |
| Fighter | 9 | – | 7 | – | – | – |
| Monk | 15 | 15 | 11 | – | 15 | – |
| Paladin | 12 | – | 9 | 9 | 13 | 17 |
| Ranger | 13 | – | 14 | – | 14 | – |
| Rogue | – | 9 | – | – | – | – |
| Sorcerer | – | 6 | – | – | – | 10 |
| Warlock | – | – | – | 12 | – | 12 |
| Wizard | – | 6 | – | 10 | – | – |
Unless otherwise stated these are the minimum scores required for each class. Each character rolls 4d6 dropping the lowest number. The player does this six times then assigns them to ability scores (nice DM’s may allow players to reroll whole sets but not individual ability scores).