D&D 5E Racial Min/Maxes on Ability Scores?

[Crimson Longinus]

I think the idea is that with smaller modifiers, they don't matter as much? Instead of the maximum spread being say +1 to +5 with RAW, it is only +1 to +3 (or whatever).

And that just means that one point difference in the modifier will be seen as even bigger deal than now.

 

[dave2008]

No, of course you can. I just like the rules to apply across the board, but 5E threw that out the window...

Actually, 4e threw it out the window, 5e reeled it back in a bit.

 

[dave2008]

Any variation could work:

View attachment 124072

The first set would also allow higher modifiers to stay the same (if that is a goal anyway... I like the idea because then you don't have to adjust a lot of stat blocks...).

I'm not 100% sure what your goal is, but why not just limit ability scores to 16 max (18 with +2 racial bonus maybe) and keep the progress as RAW? This would have the bonus effect of making proficiency more important.

 

[DND_Reborn]

We could even add a feat for breaking racial caps with a prereq of already being at the racial cap... so a 20 Int dragonborn is still possible if you really need it.

LOL, I think you would like playing at our table:

This was when we capped at 19, but we've since lowered it to 18 sans racial bumps to 20. This allows races without the +2 ASI (capped at 20) to raise an ability score cap to 20 also.

 

[DND_Reborn]

Actually, 4e threw it out the window, 5e reeled it back in a bit.

That could well be the case, but since I never played nor saw 4E... I'd have no clue.

I'm not 100% sure what your goal is, but why not just limit ability scores to 16 max (18 with +2 racial bonus maybe) and keep the progress as RAW? This would have the bonus effect of making proficiency more important.

That is a good idea as well. It would involve less work, allow PCs to begin with their ability score maxed (for the most part). I'll give this a lot of thought! Thanks!

 

[dave2008]

That is a good idea as well. It would involve less work, allow PCs to being with their ability score maxed (for the most part). I'll give this a lot of thought! Thanks!

I don't know why I never thought of it before. I think I will use this approach in the future.

 

[DND_Reborn]

And that just means that one point difference in the modifier will be seen as even bigger deal than now.

For that single point in terms of proportion, yes; but in terms of total modifier, no.

RAW cap 20 is +5. The PC with no ability mod is 5 points behind.
Say your revised variant cap 18 is +3, then the PC with no ability is only 3 points behind.

It makes it so the potential difference doesn't have as much impact. Thus, maxing out your main ability score isn't quite as important over all.

My issue is the change is really so minor in the grand scheme of things, it is worth bothering with at all???

 

[DND_Reborn]

I don't know why I never thought of it before. I think I will use this approach in the future.

YOU AND ME, BOTH!

Sigh... sometimes the simplest solutions evade us.

 

[dave2008]

YOU AND ME, BOTH!

Sigh... sometimes the simplest solutions evade us.

I think maybe It was being brought up with 1e and the mythical nature of getting an 18 in a stat. It never occurred to me to re-frame my goals (even though I almost exclusively DM)

Though in 5e,16 max works a little better with a lot of monsters. I mean an ape in the MM is only STR 16 and chimps and gorillas are a least as strong as the strongest humans.

 

[Haldrik]

I'm not 100% sure what your goal is, but why not just limit ability scores to 16 max (18 with +2 racial bonus maybe) and keep the progress as RAW? This would have the bonus effect of making proficiency more important.

Wait.

Max 16 at level 1?

Then upto 20 while advancing?