Abilities: More, less or just right

[Sadrik]

Does everybody like the six abilities? Would you want more or less if you jad the option...

 

[kanithardm]

The six ability scores are perfect. I really don't like Wis for Will saves, but I guess its okay. Maybe Cha or a whole new stat. Wis is insight, not willpower.

 

[was]

The six work just fine. I would, however, like to see one for physical attractiveness.

 

[Goolpsy]

The 6 scores make a Balance between the Physical part and the mental. 3 physical, and 3 mental scores. its a fine symbol of the 2 ways of fighting and living "By force" or "By thought", You could reduce them to 4 Scores, or increase thme to 8 scores..
But you would have to remake the whole system, even if you removed one, or added one.. Then it isn't d&d anymore.. then its your own game and system
Maybe something like this will be changed in 4.0... but who knows

 

[Aus_Snow]

But you would have to remake the whole system, even if you removed one, or added one.. Then it isn't d&d anymore.. then its your own game and system

Opinion, not fact. But I respect your opinion, even if - due to my own experiences - I disagree with it. Each to their own.

Maybe something like this will be changed in 4.0... but who knows

I doubt it, personally. It strikes me that the six ability sub-system is part of the whole canonical gig. It's like classes - I don't think they'll add or remove a single one, core-wise. Could be wrong though.


Essentially, I find D&D can work fine with fairly minor things that are 'tacked on', like say an ability for physical attractiveness, and another for luck/fate. Trying to build it all again from scratch though? Yes of course, that would probably result in a wholly different game, not to mention an absolute ton of work - arguably for little gain, at that.

 

[Runesong42]

I've played GURPS in the past, and found their 4-stat system worked very well. Charisma was essentially a special ability that could be bought, and D&D Wisdom is essentially a function of the generic IQ score. And since almost all skills are based on IQ or Dex, you're pretty much set with 4 stats. For D&D? I could see the same thing happening.

 

[Falconnan]

Actually, I worked it out to the existing 6, plus two more. I would take the insight from Wis and create a new ability score based on this: Perception
I also would create an Appearance score. Not all creatures would have an appearance score. Vermin do not usually care how other vermin look (that I have noticed), and to the point, it would not really matter to the characters.
Appearance only would fully effect how people perceive a person they have never met, but have seen; after that it would only have half the effect it did previously.
Perception would mainly effect Listen, Spot, Search, and Appraise checks. Just an idea, but I like it.
I also believe a 4th save would be of help--An Awareness save against Illusions.

Any thoughts?

 

[glass]

The 6 scores make a Balance between the Physical part and the mental. 3 physical, and 3 mental scores. its a fine symbol of the 2 ways of fighting and living "By force" or "By thought",

I once saw a quote to the effect that 'symmetrical ability scores are a sign of bad game design'. While I don't necesarily agree with that sentiment entirely, it does have a good point at it's core: How well the stats represent a range of different characters within the game's system is much more important than how neatly the stats line up on the character sheet.

FWIW, I'd like to see seven. Str, Dex, Con and Int as they are, with Wis and Cha combined and then redivided into three, something along the lines of Personality, Intuition, Perception.

EDIT: Although I'm fine with six, or three, or nine, as long as they work together and make sense. But, I do think at least will power should be moved wholy onto Cha rather than be divided between Wis & Cha.


glass.

 

[Li Shenron]

IMO they are probably fine as they are now.

However, the physical abilities usually end up to be more useful than the psychic ones (of which most of the time you need only one as a spellcaster). So if I had to modify the basic scheme, somehow I'd try to augment the physical stats and/or reduce the mental stats. Perhaps splitting Dex in two?

 

[Stalker0]

I think my favorite appearance stat takes place in the 2nd edition silhouette system.

You apply your APP stat to a number of initial social rolls equal to the absolute value of the stat. So a +2 APP gave you a +2 to your first 2 social rolls when you met a person. A -1 gave you a -1 to your first roll.

It worked out well, my beautiful character would often do astoundingly well on the first few rolls, so of course I made friends fast. I couldn't pull off the bluffing and diplomacy of other character skilled in that...but they could never touch me on a first impression.