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<blockquote data-quote="Dausuul" data-source="post: 8190024" data-attributes="member: 58197"><p>While I think ability scores are a wretched mechanic, I also think they are the sacredest of cows. Specifically:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The names (Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma) are never going to change.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The numeric scale centered on 10.5 is never going to change.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The method of calculating bonuses (subtract 10, divide by 2, round down) is <em>probably</em> never going to change.</li> </ul><p>The first two items date back to the earliest days of D&D, and they have been absolutely consistent through every edition. (Some sourcebooks added new scores to the list, but none of the new stats ever migrated to the core, and I know of no sourcebook that tried to <em>remove</em> one of the original six.) They are, at this point, set in stone.</p><p></p><p>The third item is more recent, having been introduced in 3E, but it has now persisted for 20 years and is widely accepted. You could conceivably change it, but it would be an enormous lift.</p><p></p><p>However, this leaves a fair bit of space to tinker. One of the most important changes IMO would be to reduce the "cascading" nature of ability scores, where a change to an ability score ripples out across a zillion other numbers. This leads to a variety of problems. It makes the game harder for new players to learn; it forces players to choose between concept and mechanical effectiveness; it complicates balance and class design.</p><p></p><p>I have already noticed WotC leaning more on proficiency bonus and less on stat mods--that's a good trend and I hope they broaden it.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Dausuul, post: 8190024, member: 58197"] While I think ability scores are a wretched mechanic, I also think they are the sacredest of cows. Specifically: [LIST] [*]The names (Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma) are never going to change. [*]The numeric scale centered on 10.5 is never going to change. [*]The method of calculating bonuses (subtract 10, divide by 2, round down) is [I]probably[/I] never going to change. [/LIST] The first two items date back to the earliest days of D&D, and they have been absolutely consistent through every edition. (Some sourcebooks added new scores to the list, but none of the new stats ever migrated to the core, and I know of no sourcebook that tried to [I]remove[/I] one of the original six.) They are, at this point, set in stone. The third item is more recent, having been introduced in 3E, but it has now persisted for 20 years and is widely accepted. You could conceivably change it, but it would be an enormous lift. However, this leaves a fair bit of space to tinker. One of the most important changes IMO would be to reduce the "cascading" nature of ability scores, where a change to an ability score ripples out across a zillion other numbers. This leads to a variety of problems. It makes the game harder for new players to learn; it forces players to choose between concept and mechanical effectiveness; it complicates balance and class design. I have already noticed WotC leaning more on proficiency bonus and less on stat mods--that's a good trend and I hope they broaden it. [/QUOTE]
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