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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Fanaelialae" data-source="post: 5725654" data-attributes="member: 53980">I'm not saying they have to replace ability scores, although I'm not excluding that possibility either.  There's certainly something to be said for the preservation of tradition, but I also think that innovation shouldn't necessarily be restricted for tradition's sake.  If they figure out a way to tighten up the mechanics of ability scores, I'll probably be happy.  (I'd still take issue with Wisdom though; that stat really feels like it has multiple personality disorder.)I've been thinking about the pros and cons of ability scores quite a bit recently, and I don't have an issue with keeping them if that turns out to be the more worthwhile direction.  For example, one idea I've been playing with in my head, largely as a result of this conversation, is applying ability score requirements to equipment.  For example, anyone who doesn't have 14 Str and Con would suffer a penalty when wielding a great axe.  A longsword might require 14 Str and Dex.  You might even include mental stats and make Dex/Cha the requirement for rapiers, or Dex/Wis the requirement for bows.  Superior weapons, such as the spiked chain, might require more than two ability scores while inferior weapons like the dagger might only call for one (or none).  Perhaps those with low scores (7 or lower) wouldn't be able to wield items with those requirements at all.  Obviously the numbers 14 and 7 are just something I made up for the sake of demonstration.Magic items (aside from perhaps weapons) might have mental stat requirements instead.  A potential implication which intrigues me is the capacity to shore up the capabilities of generalists using enchantments that require all six ability scores.  You could have some kind of really potent enchantment that requires a minimum of 13 in every ability score, making the generalist a viable option.  An example of such an item might be the broach Taran acquires in The Black Cauldron (Chronicles of Prydain).  I'm not saying it doesn't have it's pitfalls, but it's an idea I've been considering the implications of all the same.  In any case, I probably won't be responding to anything until at least Thursday.  I had the flu two weeks ago and missed a few classes.  I have an important math test coming up, so I need to start focusing on studying.  (As an aside, to illustrate the nature of my luck, I currently have an A in my Precalc class.  Most of the topics I remember at least a little from high school, so it's not too bad.  As my luck would have it, the two classes I missed were on division of polynomials and logarithms, which just happen to be two of the only topics I can't recall a thing about.)  >.<Anyway, I just didn't want anyone who might respond to think I was ignoring.  <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /></blockquote>

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