How important to you is maxing your primary stat?

[Henry]

On my Halfling Moon Druid, I’m at level 12 and only just now raised my wisdom to 18, taking a bolster to Dex and Con at level 4, and a combat feat at 8. However, the Moon Druid that is focused on combat is not very primary stat focused; If I were a cleric or wizard, or even a dex based fighter, I suspect I woul have placed emphasis on getting to stat 20 as soon as possible.

 

[flametitan]

I'll leave it at 16 or bump it to 18, but I'm in no rush to max out. The CR math of 5e seems to assume you start at 14 and end at 18 in order to keep your to hit at about needing a 9 average. So as long as you eventually get an 18 (usually by level 8), you should be on the curve the game provides.

 

[Henry]

"
Even in the contaxt of combat, Mobile for instance, gives you things ability score bonuses cannot grant that apoly in either all or many cases - 10' more movement, dash thtu difficult and the auto-disengage on targets you attack - which can be far more combat onfluencing and controlling than +1 mod would.

In fact, a common tactic for my Moon Druid - bonus action become a bear, move 50 feet, take a bite at the front line Mook protecting the spellcaster in the back as I ran past (triggering mobility) and then land my claws on the spell caster. Even if the front mook had any sort of sticky abilities they didn’t trigger, and I became the immediate focus of the spellcaster, keeping them from focusing on our low-wis fighters. A +2 to WIS is nice, but I didn’t find our battle outcomes suffering because I wildshaped instead of casted spells.

 

[Dausuul]

But, bumping primary stat mechanicaly is always better than feats.

No, it's not. My hexblade delayed Cha in order to get Polearm Mastery/Sentinel, and it was absolutely worth it. The ability to lock down enemies, keeping them off the party spellcasters, is far more valuable than +1 to hit/damage.

Primary stat is usually a stronger pick than feats. But not always, by any means.

 

[Caliban]

No, it's not. My hexblade delayed Cha in order to get Polearm Mastery/Sentinel, and it was absolutely worth it. The ability to lock down enemies, keeping them off the party spellcasters, is far more valuable than +1 to hit/damage.

Primary stat is usually a stronger pick than feats. But not always, by any means.

To be fair, with Xanthar's Guide pact blade warlocks can take the Improved Pact Weapon invocation for a +1 to attack/damage, which makes it easier to delay increasing your charisma.

 

[AmerginLiath]

This issue with this debate is that it’s not really about abilities vs. feats, any more that single-class vs. multiclass is really about that. The real question here is specialization vs. generalization, choosing to focus a character on one thing the best or enabling them to do multiple things (some synergistically, some not) well enough.

In terms of abilities and feats, the issue — and the reason that the argument is so circular — is that usually ASIs are general bonuses and feats are specific bonuses, but the case can switch in some instances (consider feats like Lucky or Resiliant). Nevertheless, just as there’s no “right” way to opt for single-class vs. multi-class in general circumstances (focus on a small suite of abilities vs. having a wider-if-shallower array of magisteria both have strong use cases), the same applies to individual party-members’ choices on use of ASIs for the same generalist/specialist decision points.

(For the record, I’m more of a generalist by nature since I like being a Jack of All Trades, but I recognize the strength of having specialists in the party — the best party has both, just as the best toolbox has both the exact tools for specific jobs AND those weird multi-sockets sets that don’t exactly fit anything but work for just about everything if the proper tool isn’t there)

 

[Satyrn]

My answer is "No, it is not important at all to max the primary stat."

Aye.

I'll take a feat if one appeals, or bump the stats that have been letting me down in game. I think that's gonna mean upping my druid's Int next time just so I never have to say "I got a . . . zero . . . on my Investigation check" again.

 

[ccs]

But, bumping primary stat mechanicaly is always better than feats.

Not if doing so doesn't help me better represent the character I've made.

Edit: EX: For my 1/2ling barbarian. Can I presume that you think Str is a barbarians
prime stat? If so, please explain to me how a further +1 to hit/damage
will result in representing either A) their families established-through-play gift as talented, although non-mgical, healers (Healer feat), OR B) them learning a new language (Linguist).
Give it your best shot.

 

[Wiseblood]

20 doesn't feel special anymore. It's kind of boring.

There is no where else to go. You are as good as you will ever be. Yet you still only have a 10% edge (on a d20) over someone with a 16. You should be great but you still kinda suck.

 

[Li Shenron]

I voted for the feats, but I am fine also with less than 16. I'd take an ASI only to even up a couple of odd scores, and they don't need to be the primary.