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Are high attributes more fun then low attributes?
- Thread starter Crothian
- Start date
Dr Simon
Explorer
I'd go with a mixture, really. One low score (particularly in a non-Charisma ability) can make for an interesting character.
An example (gratis):
I have an Arcana Unearthed character, a Champion of Freedom (paladin-esque type for those of you not au fait with AU), who started with Dex 9. Although it's not a huge penalty coupled with some poor rolls it did mean that he was always late in a fight. His AC didn't pose much of a problem, and Champs are d10 HD so he was quite well geared towards survival. He was never the star of the party, though. Until...
As he levelled up I multi-classed with Unfettered (a light armoured fighter), not ideal for a Dex 9 but also no specific class abilities that required high Dex to function (at least at low level).
It was about level 3 where he came into his own, single-handedly climbing into a nest of greenwood gargoyles and holding off 3 of them whilst the other party members tried to climb after him. Not long after, he went up to level 4, his +1 ability score went onto Dex, removes any penalty and now he is generally regarded as the leader of the party.
All in all, it made a nice little heroic arc for him, all because of that Dex 9.
An example (gratis):
I have an Arcana Unearthed character, a Champion of Freedom (paladin-esque type for those of you not au fait with AU), who started with Dex 9. Although it's not a huge penalty coupled with some poor rolls it did mean that he was always late in a fight. His AC didn't pose much of a problem, and Champs are d10 HD so he was quite well geared towards survival. He was never the star of the party, though. Until...
As he levelled up I multi-classed with Unfettered (a light armoured fighter), not ideal for a Dex 9 but also no specific class abilities that required high Dex to function (at least at low level).
It was about level 3 where he came into his own, single-handedly climbing into a nest of greenwood gargoyles and holding off 3 of them whilst the other party members tried to climb after him. Not long after, he went up to level 4, his +1 ability score went onto Dex, removes any penalty and now he is generally regarded as the leader of the party.
All in all, it made a nice little heroic arc for him, all because of that Dex 9.
SpiderMonkey
Explorer
We use the 32 point buy, which by definition is high-powered; I am well aware, however, that this is small fry for many groups.
I've toyed with the idea of starting with a smaller point buy and allowing PC's to buy more points as they level up. What do you guys think?
I've toyed with the idea of starting with a smaller point buy and allowing PC's to buy more points as they level up. What do you guys think?
Agent Oracle
First Post
I once played a rogue whose High stat was 13.
Nothing below a 7, but his high stat was 13 dexterity.
He persevered, barely eking out existence among a party of far more powerful characters.. It didn't help that the DM was applying "mutations" to every pc and min sucked.
"Electrical Body, you get +2 to saving throws vs. electricity attacks, and can deal 1d4 electrical damage with an unarmed strike"
In the entire time we played, i did not see one lightning bolt, or one shocking grasp, heck, even a shocker lizard. Furthermore, we fought quite a few things immune to my power
Compared to: "Mighty blood, you have +4 Str, and can perform a feat of strength once per day (as per the Cleric domain ability)"
Blah. He was a Bad GM anyway. Though, to be fair, i whined a lot about how weak my character was. I think he lost his mind somewhere around 8th level (When he discovered templates, and suddenly all of us had to have one. I jumped from 9th to 14th level because of one of his templates (Wight, i think) On top of that, I couldn't be healed anymore except by sucking the life out of my enemies... and I was a paladin.
Gods, he sucked.
Nothing below a 7, but his high stat was 13 dexterity.
He persevered, barely eking out existence among a party of far more powerful characters.. It didn't help that the DM was applying "mutations" to every pc and min sucked.
"Electrical Body, you get +2 to saving throws vs. electricity attacks, and can deal 1d4 electrical damage with an unarmed strike"
In the entire time we played, i did not see one lightning bolt, or one shocking grasp, heck, even a shocker lizard. Furthermore, we fought quite a few things immune to my power
Compared to: "Mighty blood, you have +4 Str, and can perform a feat of strength once per day (as per the Cleric domain ability)"
Blah. He was a Bad GM anyway. Though, to be fair, i whined a lot about how weak my character was. I think he lost his mind somewhere around 8th level (When he discovered templates, and suddenly all of us had to have one. I jumped from 9th to 14th level because of one of his templates (Wight, i think) On top of that, I couldn't be healed anymore except by sucking the life out of my enemies... and I was a paladin.
Gods, he sucked.
<stands>
Hello. My name is Scott C., and I like to play characters with high stats.
D&D is, at its core, an adolescent power fantasy. Not that there's anything wrong with that. So I want my characters to be really strong, or smart, or charismatic. And be able to survive falling off 100ft cliffs with only a few scratches.
If I didn't want this, I'd play another system.
Ideally, I like having one or two low scores, too. I think characters with exaggerated traits are more fun to play. They are certainly easier to characterize initially. And I think they are closer in spirit to D&D's source materials, whichever ones you prefer.
Hello. My name is Scott C., and I like to play characters with high stats.
D&D is, at its core, an adolescent power fantasy. Not that there's anything wrong with that. So I want my characters to be really strong, or smart, or charismatic. And be able to survive falling off 100ft cliffs with only a few scratches.
If I didn't want this, I'd play another system.
Ideally, I like having one or two low scores, too. I think characters with exaggerated traits are more fun to play. They are certainly easier to characterize initially. And I think they are closer in spirit to D&D's source materials, whichever ones you prefer.
