Instead of one standard array, choose from several:
| Array | Scores | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Jack of All Trades | 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2 | 12 |
| Standard | 3, 3, 2, 2, 1, 1 | 12 |
| Specialized | 4, 3, 2, 1, 1, 1 | 12 |
| Heroic | 4, 4, 3, 2, 1, 1 | 15 |
Realistically, any spread works as long as no number exceeds 4 and the numbers total 12.
Even with these “seemingly low” arrays, a Wayfarers character is well over twice as strong as a starting 5e character. The 5e standard array’s modifiers are +2, +2, +1, +1, 0, −1, a total of +5.
Is Heroic an official array?
Heroic totals 15, which breaks the “total of 12” rule. Chapter 5 lists only the first three arrays; Heroic appears only in the design notes. Decide whether it’s a high-power option or should be removed.
Allowing a 0
The designer is toying with letting characters have a 0 in an attribute.