D&D 5E The impact of ASIs

[Warpiglet-7]

In the old days ya got what ya got. Unless you found a wish or a precious few items your ability scores were pretty static.

I am curious about what others think the effect ASIs have on the game.

Does it increase the importance of magic items? How does it effect the level of challenge and danger?

If these were gone, you would also take more feats.

What do you think the end result would be?

 

[Maxperson]

In the old days ya got what ya got. Unless you found a wish or a precious few items your ability scores were pretty static.

I am curious about what others think the effect ASIs have on the game.

Does it increase the importance of magic items? How does it effect the level of challenge and danger?

If these were gone, you would also take more feats.

What do you think the end result would be?

ASIs are overrated. An additional +1 or +2 isn't that impactful in an encounter by encounter basis. I'd much rather have feats which are more fun and you can actually see at work.

 

[DND_Reborn]

In the old days ya got what ya got. If you found a wish or a precious few items your ability scores were pretty static.

I am curious about what others think the effect ASIs have on the game.

Does it increase the importance of magic items? How does it effect the level of challenge and danger?

If these were gone, you would also take more feats.

What do you think the end result would be?

Your timing is very appropriate considering my thread here that I just posted:

D&D 5E - Spending Downtime/ Training for ASIs (+)

Disclaimer: Like much of what I do, I don't expect widespread acceptance of this idea. However, if you feel compelled to tell me you don't like the idea, feel free to do so, but since this is a (+) thread, please do not argue against the concept beyond your initial response. Thank you...

www.enworld.org

Which is a direct result of a conversation I had a couple days ago with another player about the very idea of not increasing ability scores via ASIs.

IME ASIs are there just to increase the PCs' chances / bonuses. The compete with feats which makes them a poor design implementation IMO since 90+% of games use feats.

So, I prefer moving them to a downtime activity, which makes more sense to me and removes the competition with feats.

Another route I would prefer would be expanding the proficiency bonus progression from +2 to +6 to something like +2 to +10, then the ASIs for number bumping would be unnecessary for the most part.

 

[Charlaquin]

ASIs are overrated. An additional +1 or +2 isn't that impactful in an encounter by encounter basis. I'd much rather have feats which are more fun and you can actually see at work.

I disagree with the first sentence and agree with the second. Very little is as impactful on an encounter by encounter basis as a +5% chance to hit and +1 damage on all of your attacks. But it’s also incredibly boring and I would much rather have a feat that lets me do something new, rather than doing the same things with higher numbers.

 

[billd91]

I like them and have since they were made part of 3e's leveling up. I like PCs improving in a variety of ways as they gain levels, hit points, combat ability, skills, feats, and stats.

 

[Bill Zebub]

I hate them.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Getting an ASI is like getting socks on Christmas; sure, you know those socks will be useful!

But c'mon. It's Christmas. Socks?

 

[Warpiglet-7]

I disagree with the first sentence and agree with the second. Very little is as impactful on an encounter by encounter basis as a +5% chance to hit and +1 damage on all of your attacks. But it’s also incredibly boring and I would much rather have a feat that lets me do something new, rather than doing the same things with higher numbers.

This is my biggest concern: you could do more character building stuff with feats.

I was asking folks in another thread about having less than 18 in a casting stat because I want some color—to do new things etc

And this is why I often default to half feat choices…

 

[Warpiglet-7]

Getting an ASI is like getting socks on Christmas; sure, you know those socks will be useful!

But c'mon. It's Christmas. Socks?

Socks and underwear, every year growing up

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Socks and underwear, every year growing up

I had a friend with a birthday the same week as Christmas.

He would get the toys on his birthday, and the batteries on Christmas.

(No, I'm not joking)