My group isn't crazy about the random stat generation in dark heresy. I'm debating letting them opt for average rolls or working out some stat point system. Any suggestions?
Non-random stats
Use a stat array. 9 numbers between 1 and 20, let them place them as they see fit. The numbers themselves are up to you, so you can choose how competent you want your acolytes to be.
Personally, I'm a fan of the random characteristics. If you allow people to arrange the stats, you're going to find that every gunner has their highest stat in BS, every psyker has their highest stat in WP, etc. I find it refreshing (as bother a player and a GM) to have characters that might be different in things other than their dump stat.
OTOH, I understand that players might have expectations of their characters preset...so, if the player rolls up the character and decides they don't like it, I simply let them create another. They'll still get pretty random characters, but aren't screwed by taking one that's totally antithetical to what they're looking to do.
My groups are "kinda non-random", but it did not build a system for it.
I just rolled 10 times for the 9 stats and eliminated the lowest role (since I wanted them to have pontial).
These "9 numbers" where given to each and any player to assign them on there char as seemed fitting for them.
So, they had "equal ground to start" without having to work a complex system in advance.
I don't like random stats either. Here is the system I use in my game:
Good system there Aethel. I think part of me enjoys the cruel fate of the dice rolls though mwaahaha! It's led to some quite funny characters i'll admit, like an Assassin who gets scared easy and a really intelligent Guardsman. As for the Psyker in my group i'd swear she'd sacraficed a goat to Tzeeentch before she rolled, her WP roll was really high then she rolled every possible WP stat boost you can on the other tables.