We now know that 4E ability scores will ordinarily range from 3-18 just like in 3.XE, but that modifiers will be handled slightly differently. Whereas 3.XE modifiers were calculated as Modifier=(Ability/2)-5, modifiers in 4E will be calculated thusly: Modifier=(Ability/2)-2
This gives us the following table:
0
1/ -2
2/ -1
3/ -1
4/ 0
5/ 0
6/ +1
7/ +1
8/ +2
9/ +2
10/ +3
11/ +3
12/ +4
13/ +4
14/ +5
15/ +5
16/ +6
17/ +6
18/ +7
19/ +7
20/ +8
...
I must say I am a bit mystified by this change. Retaining the old system would leave the average modifier at 0, which makes some sense. Another option would be to get rid of negative modifiers altogether (indeed I suggested doing Modifier=(Ability/2) in my previous thread on this topic), which again makes sense. To recalibrate the numbers so that +3 is now the mean modifier, yet negative modifiers still exist, however, seems a bit strange.
Of course, if ability scores ran from 4-18, instead of 3-18, it would be somewhat more intuitive, as now 0 modifier would be defined as the modifier of the lowest human ability score.
I would suggest that ability scores for the general population (not heroes) be generated by 4d4, rather than 3d6. This would give normal people ability scores in the range from 4-16 and the mean ability would be a nice round number 10, rather than 10.5 as it is currently and the standard deviation is smaller too, resulting in tighter clustering around the mean.
PCs, being special, would/could, of course, use other systems to generate their ability scores, ranging from some 4E version of point buy to rolling. For the rolling option, and interesting medium-powered system might be to do something along the lines of 4d4 + 2. This would ensure that characters are closer in power (both smaller range [6-18 rather than 3-18] and standard deviation [2 rather than 2.9]) than in 3.XE, as well as giving the designers a nice ability score baseline to work with (they seem to like implementing base lines, judging from skill system design) - no character would have a negative modifier, even with the lowest role and -2 to an ability score due to a race that has a penalty (I am assuming the standard ability score penalties and bonuses will remain at +/-2 for the core races).
This gives us the following table:
0
1/ -2
2/ -1
3/ -1
4/ 0
5/ 0
6/ +1
7/ +1
8/ +2
9/ +2
10/ +3
11/ +3
12/ +4
13/ +4
14/ +5
15/ +5
16/ +6
17/ +6
18/ +7
19/ +7
20/ +8
...
I must say I am a bit mystified by this change. Retaining the old system would leave the average modifier at 0, which makes some sense. Another option would be to get rid of negative modifiers altogether (indeed I suggested doing Modifier=(Ability/2) in my previous thread on this topic), which again makes sense. To recalibrate the numbers so that +3 is now the mean modifier, yet negative modifiers still exist, however, seems a bit strange.
Of course, if ability scores ran from 4-18, instead of 3-18, it would be somewhat more intuitive, as now 0 modifier would be defined as the modifier of the lowest human ability score.
I would suggest that ability scores for the general population (not heroes) be generated by 4d4, rather than 3d6. This would give normal people ability scores in the range from 4-16 and the mean ability would be a nice round number 10, rather than 10.5 as it is currently and the standard deviation is smaller too, resulting in tighter clustering around the mean.
PCs, being special, would/could, of course, use other systems to generate their ability scores, ranging from some 4E version of point buy to rolling. For the rolling option, and interesting medium-powered system might be to do something along the lines of 4d4 + 2. This would ensure that characters are closer in power (both smaller range [6-18 rather than 3-18] and standard deviation [2 rather than 2.9]) than in 3.XE, as well as giving the designers a nice ability score baseline to work with (they seem to like implementing base lines, judging from skill system design) - no character would have a negative modifier, even with the lowest role and -2 to an ability score due to a race that has a penalty (I am assuming the standard ability score penalties and bonuses will remain at +/-2 for the core races).
