Making ability scores more about the character concept.

mellored · Apr 22, 2018

Something seems off with the way that every fighter ends up with 20 Str, every wizard has 20 Int, every cleric has 20 Wis, and every warlock 20 Cha.
Why not intelligent fighters? Charismatic clerics? Strong wizards? Or preceptive Warlocks?
Not to mention all the races. How many people avoid making a Dragonborn rogue just because they don't have +2 Dex?

So let's remove the biggest mechanical pressures that force certain ability score, and give everyone a flat 4 instead.

To-hit = 4+proficency bonus
Damage = Weapon Dice + 4
DC = 12+proficency bonus
Casting modifier = 4
HP = Max Roll
No armor = 14 AC
Light armor = 16 AC
Medium Armor/Barbarian = 17 AC
Heavy Armor/Monk = 18 AC
Bardic Insperation = 4 dice

Now to adjust the feats.
Level 1: ABI or non-combat feat.
Level 4: Combat Feat
Level 8: ABI or non-combat feat.
Level 12: Combat Feat
Level 16 ABI or non-combat feat.
Level 19: Combat Feat
(Fighter/Rogue bonus feats are combat feats).

Smaller things, like the number of spells known, can stay based on the ability score. So it's still desirable to have a smart gnome wizard, but a 20 Str half-orc wizard is now mechanically competitive.

TwoSix · Apr 22, 2018

So stats would be primarily used for saves and skill checks? I like it.

UngeheuerLich · Apr 22, 2018

For HP it might be easier to just give Max hd hp for every class. Seems like that might work out fair enough. I would however think about AC again. AC 18 for the barbarian is quite unrealistic.

mellored · Apr 22, 2018

UngeheuerLich said:
For HP it might be easier to just give Max hd hp for every class. Seems like that might work out fair enough.

Yea, that's probably a bit simpler.

AC 18 for the barbarian is quite unrealistic.

True. 17 then, since they have medium armor anyways.

UngeheuerLich · Apr 22, 2018

Better. But usually a bit too high at low levels.

I would try 15+1/2 proficiency bonus.

mellored · Apr 23, 2018

UngeheuerLich said:
Better. But usually a bit too high at low levels.

I would try 15+1/2 proficiency bonus.

Barbarians get proficiency in medium armor. And there's no penalty for rageing or anything else in medium armor.
So as soon as they get a little gold, it's 15+2 dex. No need to complicate it.

Barbarian capstone needs updating, but I havn't seen any level 20, so meh.

Krachek · Apr 23, 2018

Maybe try to remove ASI. Only allow feats.

5ekyu · Apr 23, 2018

First a fallacy: Thinking that players making choices driven solely on combat merit o r "the numbers" will make different choices if the dehree of significane is changed by lowering the gains.

As long as its seen as gain vs no gain, it wont matter.

So instead of devaluing choices by nerfing the high end choices, empower choices by raising the low end.

Give INT a role for fighters in combat and/or for other advancement elements.

Odd thought off the cuff - at where you gain an ASI you may take an ASI **AND** a feat if your net ASI gain overall is equal to your int bonus or less.

So now a smart 14 int fighter can get feats at 4th and 8th while still picking ASI +2s.

Or...

Stunts:A character may stunt a feat as a bonus action that last until the start of their next turn.Make an Int (athletics) roll of 15+. This may be done a number of times equal to Int bonus (min 0) and refresh on short rest.

Build up the low end instead of tearing down the upper.