D&D 5E Ability Score Increases (I've changed my mind.)

[Scribe]

If I'm being completely honest I think we should get rid of ASIs completely.

My thought process:
"They really belong in the class, not the race. If you pick Fighter you should get +2 Strength"
"But...why? What if somebody wants to play a Fighter with high Int? Better make them floating."
"But...in that case, why not just change Standard Array and Point Buy so that you can get a 17?"
"Oh, right, because if you roll for scores you might not get a 17."
"Except that everybody who rolls cheats anyway."

I prefer Array + ASI. I want every choice to define the character and that means keeping ASI.

To each their own however.

 

[Scott Christian]

A whole bunch of additional options, systems, tables, and configuration.

There are games that already do this. The beauty of D&D is the simplicity of the rules and its ability to adapt to its plug and play setting.

 

[Maxperson]

If I'm being completely honest I think we should get rid of ASIs completely.

My thought process:
"They really belong in the class, not the race. If you pick Fighter you should get +2 Strength"
"But...why? What if somebody wants to play a Fighter with high Int? Better make them floating."
"But...in that case, why not just change Standard Array and Point Buy so that you can get a 17?"
"Oh, right, because if you roll for scores you might not get a 17."
"Except that everybody who rolls cheats anyway."

The bolded part is pretty dismissive and insulting.

 

[Bill Zebub]

The bolded part is pretty dismissive and insulting.

Sorry it was meant to be funny.

 

[Scribe]

There are games that already do this. The beauty of D&D is the simplicity of the rules and its ability to adapt to its plug and play setting.

Sure, I'm just saying that is what it takes, more layers, more complexity.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I fully agree with this, although I have to admit I'm puzzled that @Micah Sweet also "liked" this post, since it involves getting rid of racial ASIs. Are we closer on this than I thought?

But, yes, I would love to see more racial abilities that convey the same themes, but with less class-specific synergy, as the ASIs. Which also means you want to minimize synergy with specific attributes. Right? Because if an ability only really works with a high Dexterity score, that ability is going to be great for Rogues and less great for other classes, making that race "better" for rogues, which is the very thing we're trying to avoid. So, for example, for a limited-use ability I would make it proficiency bonus times per long/short rest, not attribute bonus times.

The main reason I liked it is because I think we should get rid of ASIs altogether after level 1. I was never a fan of level-based stat bumps. To me, that's the province of magic.

 

[Bill Zebub]

The main reason I liked it is because I think we should get rid of ASIs altogether after level 1. I was never a fan of level-based stat bumps. To me, that's the province of magic.

Oh, yes, I agree with that! It’s been all downhill ever since the Cavalier appeared in Dragon. (My DM let me play one, and every time my scores went up the other players got sour looks.)

 

[Crimson Longinus]

The main reason I liked it is because I think we should get rid of ASIs altogether after level 1. I was never a fan of level-based stat bumps. To me, that's the province of magic.

What? Certainly is makes perfect sense for people's abilities to improve over time, especially in heroic fantasy where the whole point is that they get better as they gain experience.

 

[TwoSix]

What? Certainly is makes perfect sense for people's abilities to improve over time, especially in heroic fantasy where the whole point is that they get better as they gain experience.

Plus considering how popular progression fantasy has gotten as a genre over the last few years, especially among Gen Z.

Besides, in a fantasy game leveling IS magic, or at the very least preternatural.

 

[Scribe]

It's an interesting idea though. Not allowing upgrades to stats after creation.

Would need more magic items perhaps, but it would be a lever for customization.

Will have to think on it.