ElectricDragon
Explorer
Permanent increases in Constitution are retroactive, yet supposedly, permanent increases in Intelligence are not. I think that Intelligence increases (whether by level, wish, or god granted) should also be retroactive. Yes, I know this is the rules forum, please bear with me.
When you, as DM make up a dragon, say for instance, a green dragon; do you, as DM figure up its skill points per HD as it gained in Intelligence growing up? Or do you, as DM say "Its HD are (38 for a green great wyrm plus 3) times (6 plus Intelligence modifier of +6) for a total of 492 skill points?
The difference is great. Up until it gained 11 HD, a green dragon only got 6+0 points per HD. Yet to make things go faster, most DM's give the dragon retroactive Intelligence points.
Why should a dragon, one of the most powerful creatures in the game get an ability that is denied to player characters just because it is easier to do it that way? Why not also give this ability to player characters and reduce paperwork and record-keeping. Not all characters would benefit from this ruling, a 20th level sorcerer made up for a one-shot who placed all his ability increases in Charisma, or a Fighter who placed all his in Strength, would not notice the ruling either way. But a wizard or psion that placed all their ability point increases in Intelligence, or anyone that used a Tome of Clear Thought would highly benefit from this lessening of record-keeping.
It would change this:
"Let's see, your wizard had an Intelligence of 15 at first level and so his skill points until 4th level would be 24, then you would get another 40 points until 12th level and then another 48 points to get you to 19th level and then 7 more points for 20th level. Oh wait, you're a human too so add another 23 points. That's, umm, 142."
To this:
"20th level human wizard with 20 Int=(6+2)*(20+3)=184."
I mean, we, as DMs, do it for dragons all the time, because it would make dragon-making a more difficult process than it already is, why not loosen the strings and let it work that way for players, too.
Sorry, rant over.
Ciao,
Dave
When you, as DM make up a dragon, say for instance, a green dragon; do you, as DM figure up its skill points per HD as it gained in Intelligence growing up? Or do you, as DM say "Its HD are (38 for a green great wyrm plus 3) times (6 plus Intelligence modifier of +6) for a total of 492 skill points?
The difference is great. Up until it gained 11 HD, a green dragon only got 6+0 points per HD. Yet to make things go faster, most DM's give the dragon retroactive Intelligence points.
Why should a dragon, one of the most powerful creatures in the game get an ability that is denied to player characters just because it is easier to do it that way? Why not also give this ability to player characters and reduce paperwork and record-keeping. Not all characters would benefit from this ruling, a 20th level sorcerer made up for a one-shot who placed all his ability increases in Charisma, or a Fighter who placed all his in Strength, would not notice the ruling either way. But a wizard or psion that placed all their ability point increases in Intelligence, or anyone that used a Tome of Clear Thought would highly benefit from this lessening of record-keeping.
It would change this:
"Let's see, your wizard had an Intelligence of 15 at first level and so his skill points until 4th level would be 24, then you would get another 40 points until 12th level and then another 48 points to get you to 19th level and then 7 more points for 20th level. Oh wait, you're a human too so add another 23 points. That's, umm, 142."
To this:
"20th level human wizard with 20 Int=(6+2)*(20+3)=184."
I mean, we, as DMs, do it for dragons all the time, because it would make dragon-making a more difficult process than it already is, why not loosen the strings and let it work that way for players, too.
Sorry, rant over.
Ciao,
Dave