D&D 5E Is Tasha's More or Less The Universal Standard?

[Parmandur]

No, quality is quality. So let's examine what int and dex give.

Int gives a save bonus to a very, very, very, VERY few things. It's one of the weakest save stats.
Dex gives a save bonus to a very, very, very, VERY many things. It's one of the strongest save stats.
The quality win goes to Dex.

Int gives a skill bonus to 5 skills that are useful.
Dex gives a skill bonus to 3 skills, including one of the top 3 most used skills in the game.
The quality win is a wash or maybe a slight edge to int.

Int gives bonuses to int based classes.
Dex gives bonuses to dex based classes.
This is a quality wash.

Dex gives an initiative bonus.
Int doesn't.
Dex wins quality by default.

Dex gives an AC bonus.
Int doesn't.
Dex wins quality by default.

Dex can be used in place of strength for some weapons.
Int cannot.
Dex wins quality by default.

Dex is useful to all classes.
Int is not.
Dex wins quality.

Dex wins 5 times by a large margin, and washes once or maybe twice. Int maybe wins once.

Again, quantity is not quality. Imposing a Intelligence based saving throw on Monsters is enough that some constantly complain about how OP Wizards are. Dexteriry has many uses that come up frequently, but when Intelligence comes up, it goes big.

 

[Parmandur]

Min Maxers? A way to end that debate in PC creation? 0 Level funnel with random generated characters being put through HEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLL. Pete the Elf with a max stat of 12 wins the day with his Intelligence of 4.

I mean, I can dig it.

Hybridizing DCC into 5E is something I've contemplated, particularly the XP system which maintains an objective tracking methodology while decentering killing.

 

[Parmandur]

The standard array person is hosed when rollers get to declare a mulligan. Turns out they only want to roll when it works in their favor.

When we roll for stats, its 4d6, drop lowest, in order. Everyone generates a set of stats (or two). Then anyone can use any of the stat sets OR standard point buy if none of the stat sets fit their vision. Our last game had an array with an 18 strength and 17 charisma that 3 characters used. It generates interesting characters with the benefit of no one being jealous of stats because you could have had the exact same stats!

So don't allow mulligans or the array. That's how I've always seen it done.

 

[Weiley31]

As someone who never uses Standard Array and only rolls for their stats, I'm perfectly fine with Tasha's floating Racial Modifiers.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

The standard array person is hosed when rollers get to declare a mulligan. Turns out they only want to roll when it works in their favor.

"those were practice rolls"
"that doesn't count"
"If you make me use these I'll just make a new character after I suicide or retire this one"
even before the BLATENT cheating

My group stopped rolling in the end of 3.5. I only 1 time since have gone back to rolling and I didn't roll (I have told this story before)

I went to a PF game and was told to roll stats. I sat down had the 4d6 in hand and put them down and just took what every stats I wanted. I went and showed the DM he asked if I had rolled and I was honest, "Nope, just took what I wanted... still going to be lower than your brother and his best friend" he didn't know what to say... a little bit later his young brother showed up and if you put my highest to lowest and his highest to lowest every number on his... when the younger brothers best friend showed he had BETTER stats yet, so the DM let me keep mine. I was the second lowest in 7 players... 1 rolled at table so i know he rolled well. other 5 all swore they just rolled well (all 5 had 1 or more nat 18)


over the years I have seen people cheat, people lie, and in general when even players that wont complain about useing the array or point buy and be fine with a 15 high stat find they NEED an 18 when rolling.

 

[Parmandur]

As someone who never uses Standard Array and only rolls for their stats, I'm perfectly fine with Tasha's floating Racial Modifiers.

I mean, even assuming the array or point buy, it's fine for balance, since raising the ceiling won't effect the game assumptions, which already account for the possibility of a 20 in a primary stat.

 

[James Gasik]

Really, and this is something I want to try, I'm pretty sure that you could let everyone start with all 16's and it wouldn't affect 5e's balance in the slightest.

EDIT: thinking about it, let me change that to all 15's.

 

[CleverNickName]

I have a long-standing house-rule that started out as a joke in 3rd Edition: I let my players start with three 18s, but only if they also decide to start with three 3s.

So far, no takers.

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

That seems way more complicated than just using a generous point buy or rolling method.

I guess we just only look at each other’s sheets to make sure the other person has enough, not to make sure they don’t have “more” than me. I don’t think I’m going to understand it, frankly. Feels similar to trying to understand monogamous people. It’s just a different mindset at a fundamental level.

It's no more complicated than rolling normally. You just can use anyone else's stats. I'd personally just rather cut out the middleman and do the higher amount, but everyone was yowling to roll. It also worked well with kids under 10.

The "in order" was to generate something other than a bog standard min-max array. My wife's halfling rogue started with a 17 Dex, 14 Str, and a 18 Con after adjustments, which informed how she conceived and played "Virus" Lou, who acted as the party tank. Point buy would have likely just been another 10 Str middling Con rogue.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

It's no more complicated than rolling normally. You just can use anyone else's stats. I'd personally just rather cut out the middleman and do the higher amount, but everyone was yowling to roll. It also worked well with kids under 10.

The "in order" was to generate something other than a bog standard min-max array. My wife's halfling rogue started with a 17 Dex, 14 Str, and a 18 Con after adjustments, which informed how she conceived and played "Virus" Lou, who acted as the party tank. Point buy would have likely just been another 10 Str middling Con rogue.

And rolling straight down could have made it hard to even play a rogue, but whatever works for y’all.