D&D 5E (2014) Best way to order abilities?

[ccs]

Here's my take. Planning and strategizing are fundamental aspects of the game. Having a low-Int character shouldn't preclude you from enjoying that part of the game. (Note: I'm aware this not universally agreed upon. I know many players who believe this to be a necessary drawback to not dumping Int.) My personal interpretation is that strategizing is not definitively an Intelligence-based trait, but can be role-played using any mental stat.

Oh I agree. Just because you have a low Int score shouldn't preclude you from planning/strategizing. It should just increase the DCs needed to succeed. Sometimes greatly.
After all, idiots make plans all the time here in the real world. Perfect example: The powers-that-be where I work. If they had higher Int scores they'd be less likely to try & implement bad plans that are simply doomed to failure. Or take good plans & try and implement them with only fractions of the minimum resources success requires.

 

[Saeviomagy]

How does one make (edit) good plans without logic and deductive reasoning?

Gut feel. Lateral thinking. Predator cunning. Psychic foresight.

 

[Sword of Spirit]

2) Play a low-Int character and simply ignore the problem solving aspects of the game. (More immersive/realistic/balanced for some, but the obvious downside of not fully participating.)

I prefer something like this technique, but I don't really consider it to be lack of participation. My fellow players fortunately appear to think similarly to me. If I make a character with a low stat, that is a statement that I want to role-play a low stat. So coming up with less than stellar plans and suggesting them to the group if I have low Intelligence is part of the fun. Doing impulsive things or being oblivious if I have a low Wisdom is the point.

If I intend to put my problem-solving skills to good effect on a regular basis, then I'm going to put a good stat into Intelligence.

Now, that's not to say I would have a problem with attempting to balance the description of a stat in such a way that there are highs and lows. For instance, I have a character with an 11 Wisdom, who I want to be very insightful and intuitive. Part of that can come from skill choice. But as far as justifying the stat in general, I need to have some other equally important parts of Wisdom that he's below average at. Maybe he's lost in his own head a lot or loses his composure when flustered. Still working on it, but I won't feel satisfied until I feel like I can role-play the negatives as well as the positives and it should reasonably balance out to that solidly average 11.