D&D (2024) Sacred Cows: Ability Scores

[Uni-the-Unicorn!]

Well, I'm not entirely opposed to this idea, but with one important condition: as long, as it's really necessary. Adding stuff just for the sake of adding stuff isn't a particularly good idea.

Of course what is really necessary is a different for different people

 

[Uni-the-Unicorn!]

The game just does not need ability scores at this point because the core d20 mechanic makes them irrelevant. Your Initiative doesn't care about your Dex score. Your Perception doesn't care about your Wis score. Your ability to hit with a spell doesn't care about your Int score. The DC of your warlock spell doesn't depend on the Cha score. Your ability hit with a sword or roll damage doesn't depend on the actual Str score. The scores are just numbers on the sheet for nostalgia's sake that add clutter without real mechanical benefit.

But what about a few things like carrying capacity that do use the score? Just make them key off of the bonus, like 99% of the other mechanics that use abilities.

Boring alert, boring alert! How about we don’t water down the game and instead try to inject more interesting ideas, features, and mechanics. There is so much more you can with ability scores the just a dumb modifier. If we are changing things, let’s make that change instead.

 

[Thunder Brother]

Disagree, I can be strong (able to lift great weight) and have a weak constitution. I think they should remain separate

Agreed. Constitution has a distinct niche; sprinter (high strength/power) vs marathoner (high constitution/endurance).

 

[Yaarel]

Weightlifting is a skill, called weighttraining, that one learns and gains proficiency in, and size is a significant factor for carrying capacity.

When Strength, Constitution, and Size consolidate into one ability, the mechanics of weightlifting, health, and reach, can be subsets of the combined big and tough Strength, that key off it, while each subset maintains its own mechanics separate from each other.

 

[Bolares]

Sooo... we're back on simulationism aren't we?

 

[Scribe]

Sooo... we're back on simulationism aren't we?

I couldn't even tell you at this point.

All I know, is that people are unsatisfied, with everything.

Not all people, but some.

 

[Deset Gled]

Sooo... we're back on simulationism aren't we?

Not back on it. Still on it.

 

[Uni-the-Unicorn!]

Sooo... we're back on simulationism aren't we?

Not really. Wanting to keep ability scores =/= simulationism

 

[Arilyn]

I just like ability scores. I use sheets where the ability score is bigger than the modifier. I admired my character's 11 intelligence that is no better than a ten because then I knew my character was in the higher range of average. Almost smart enough for a bonus! I assigned ability scores to my character in a F20 game that had ditched them in favour of just the bonuses. (the GM rolled his eyes, but I didn't care. They made me happy.)

6e can ditch them but I'll still use them.

 

[Remathilis]

Yeah, 6e should be a 'rip off the bandage' edition.

Remove everything that they keep messing around with half measures on, and let the chips fall where they may.

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