D&D General B/X Vs Modern Ability Scores. ENworlds D&D Design Pt 1

[Zardnaar]

Conceptually Here. What is D&D stripped down?

So I'm thinking of redoing my homebrew. Broadly speaking I want something more complicated than B/X, less HP than 5E and grittier than 5E.

I will be using the 5E engine however. I am willing to strip out chunks of it. Eg archetypes are not sacred but I'll worry about that that later.

Anyway Modern ability scores a'la 5E perhaps capped at 18 vs 20. Or the old B/X array. That being.
3: -3
4-5: -2
6-8: -1
9-12: +0
13-15: +1
16-17: +2
18: +3

Basic idea of B/X is lower numbers. I have no strong opinion either way. Modern array more players familiar with it.

Side Trek. Modern array capped at 18 and no ASI's? Your thoughts.

 

[Merlecory]

Can I ask for some clarification? Your post is not super clear to me.

Is this a post about how players generate their stats? (Strength score, Dex score, etc)
Is this a post about having scores vs just the modifier?

Is this about what score should give what modifier?

 

[Shiroiken]

I personally prefer the old bell curve modifiers to the modern linear method. Unfortunately it doesn't jell with player's desire for ASI, so unless you remove those from the game (not a terrible idea IMO), the 5E engine doesn't work so well with it.

 

[Zardnaar]

Can I ask for some clarification? Your post is not super clear to me.

Is this a post about how players generate their stats? (Strength score, Dex score, etc)
Is this a post about having scores vs just the modifier?

Is this about what score should give what modifier?

What star array/modifiers do you like better.

 

[Voadam]

The B/X modifiers mean you can do 3d6 in order to generate stats and it will not be nearly as detrimental. Stats will have less impact overall and proficiency bonus or not will matter a little more in comparison. Characters will be closer together in roll modifiers and the d20 roll will have a bigger impact compared to build choices within the bound accuracy.

 

[Charlaquin]

Can I ask for some clarification? Your post is not super clear to me.

Is this a post about how players generate their stats? (Strength score, Dex score, etc)
Is this a post about having scores vs just the modifier?

Is this about what score should give what modifier?

It's about what score should give what modifier. The scale shown here is how it used to work before 3e (mostly... it varied a bit)

 

[Charlaquin]

I really like the old-school bell-curve scores, with the cap of 18. Especially if you roll for ability scores. Especially if species give different dice formulae to roll instead of just flat bonuses/penalties (assuming species have ability modifiers, that is).

 

[Horwath]

personally, I gave up on ability scores.
I just use modifiers.
scores are just a relic, they are just in game to generate ability modifiers that you will use 99% of the time with desperate exception of few requirements that pretend that ability scores are still relevant.

removed racial/species bonuses:
starting array:
+4, +3, +2, +1, +0, -1
(high power campaign: +5, +4, +3, +2, +1, +0)
(low power campaign: +3, +2, +1, +1, +0, -1)

with new feats being all half feats its easy:
+1 or two feats without their ASI's

ability requirements:
13+ -> +1
15+ -> +2

carry capacity:
150lb +/- 30lp per modifier


also, I like the cap of +4 for PCs before any magic or high level class features/spells

 

[Distracted DM]

I much prefer the lower numbers. My players always race to get +5 in their primary stat; in 5e it's so easy to do so, to and it really makes things more complex if I want to challenge them without outright killing them because they've upped their damage output but can't handle any extra input... Use too many extra baddies and they'll crumble, too few and it's a cake walk.

 

[Zardnaar]

I much prefer the lower numbers. My players always race to get +5 in their primary stat; in 5e it's so easy to do so, to and it really makes things more complex if I want to challenge them without outright killing them because they've upped their damage output but can't handle any extra input... Use too many extra baddies and they'll crumble, too few and it's a cake walk.

Cap at 18 or use B/X?