D&D 5E Where's the Dump?

[DND_Reborn]

So, now years into 5E and I want to see what peoples' experiences are with dump stats. I know the results probably won't be surprising, but hey, maybe they will be...?

What ability is your most common dump stat?

YOU CAN SELECT UP TO 2 OPTIONS.

Spoiler: REVIEW

1. It is hardly surprising after a few dozen voters that STR/INT lead the way as dump stats, with CHA a distant third. All three represent what is known as "weak" saving throws, so aren't commonly encountered and thus lose value that way as well.
2. WIS and DEX are rare dumps; with the godhood of DEX and the importance of Perception/ Survival to most players, it isn't a shocker.
3. CON not at all due to the sacred-HP bonus connection.
4. Martials don't need STR when DEX is available.
5. Wizards are the only INT-based casters, so other casters don't need INT and neither to most martials.
6. Rogues are probably the only martial class (except the INT-based EK and AT subclasses) who values INT at all.
7. CHA is valuable to CHA-based casters (Bard, Paladin, Sorcerer, and Warlock--whew! talk about overkill!) and face-man type PCs who stress CHA-based skills. But unless you are one of those 4 classes or a face-man, you don't need it really.

Sadly, most of us probably suspected things would go this way. I wonder if WotC will ever address the imbalance and find more uses for STR, INT, and CHA in the future?

 

[Micah Sweet]

Wisdom. As long as somebody has it, everyone doesn't need it. Also, I don't see a lot of clerics and druids in my games, and in any case adventuring isn't the wisest profession anyway.

 

[J-H]

The 3 current players in my high-level game (we lost 2):
Monk INT 6 (19 with headband of intellect; drank from a Fomorian drink)
Paladin 8
Barbarian 8

Lost players were a cleric (Int 10)
and an Artificer (Int 20)

Charisma isn't high on any of them except the Paladin either.

 

[Krachek]

My best effort was to dump cha, dex, int to 8, with the same character.

 

[DND_Reborn]

My best effort was to dump cha, dex, int to 8, with the same character.

I love that you went with dex for one of them!

Another issue I take with 5E, and don't enforce, is DEX penalties don't hurt your AC when wearing heavy armor. Screw that! A clumsy person in heavy armor is going to be easier to hit and thus hurt than someone who isn't clumsy.

 

[TwoSix]

I love Int-based characters, but it's definitely Int. I recently had a 7-person party where the highest Int was 12.

 

[iserith]

Unless we're rolling ability scores in order, I wouldn't say there's a common enough "dump stat" at my table to say one way or the other. There have been instances where by happenstance the party wasn't terribly bright or charismatic (and one time no great Str), but those were unusual enough to be seen as funny rather than the norm. Dexterity and Wisdom will certainly be greatly valued because of all the mechanics that interact with them. Dumping any stat in my game is perilous or at the very least costly. A character is usually better off if they are more well-rounded than highly specialized.

 

[Fenris-77]

Oh, I thought this was going to be a thread about the complete lack of sanitation related locations in most fantasy cities.

 

[Oofta]

Oh, I thought this was going to be a thread about the complete lack of sanitation related locations in most fantasy cities.

Yes sir, can I interest you in the latest in fantasy sanitation? Step right this way, we have the best selection of Otyughs around!

 

[payn]

Gamers do seem to hate Charisma.