D&D (2024) Buffing Int, Wis, and Cha (Mostly Int and Cha)

[azabaro]

Buffing int,Wis,cha is just an implicit caster buff, because they the only ones main stating them outside a few niche builds that can attack with cha or such.

This suggests any improvement to those attributes must be one those casters are incentivized not to use. E.g. for Charisma it might be something like:

As long as your Charisma modifier is at least +1, you can communicate to an ally to give them Inspiration. Doing so reduces your Charisma modifier by 1. It returns to normal when you complete a long rest.

I'm envisioning characters yelling encouragement at each other. Since it would be reducing an attribute modifier, it should discourage Charisma-powered classes from getting a double benefit from their primary attribute.

 

[fluffybunbunkittens]

I'm envisioning characters yelling encouragement at each other. Since it would be reducing an attribute modifier, it should discourage Charisma-powered classes from getting a double benefit from their primary attribute.

I really like this idea!

Spend Int for flashback scenes, as you set something up already, expecting just this situation!

 

[Krachek]

If anything, if we wanted to discourage dump stats, then the penalty would need to go up...
'are you sure about that 8? You'll have -2 just to save 2 point-buy points' kind of a deal.

8, 10, 12 don’t matter much.
Most characters run 2 or 3 concrete dump stats.

 

[jmartkdr2]

If anything, if we wanted to discourage dump stats, then the penalty would need to go up...
'are you sure about that 8? You'll have -2 just to save 2 point-buy points' kind of a deal.

The thing is, you can't not have dump stats. Unless you carefully finagle yourself to have a 13 in everything, something's going to be the lowest. And while it should matter once in a while, I don't want to game to be all about what characters aren't good at.

 

[fluffybunbunkittens]

The thing is, you can't not have dump stats. Unless you carefully finagle yourself to have a 13 in everything, something's going to be the lowest. And while it should matter once in a while, I don't want to game to be all about what characters aren't good at.

12 isn't a dump stat. And our options aren't just having 13 in everything, or 15 8 15 8 15 8 anyway...

 

[jmartkdr2]

Our options aren't just 13 in everything, or 15 8 15 8 15 8, though.

I find very few people actually put three 8s down. Most end up with something close to standard array.

And if 15 8 15 8 15 8 bothers you, is 14 10 14 10 14 10 really much better?

 

[MonsterEnvy]

Charisma is generally considered one of the best stats

 

[ECMO3]

I miss Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma having functions outside of their skills and saves (and magic for casters). In 3E, Int gave extra skill points and languages. This kept it from being dumped to the floor, or at least made you feel it if your character idea came with an 8 Int; I know I only considered it for Barbarians, because they got 4 skill points per level so I felt okay losing one.

Wisdom is always painful to dump because Perception is useful for everyone and Wisdom saves are important.

Charisma is always easy to dump because it just has its skills and rare Charisma saves.

If you play in all 3 pillars these three abilities have far more uses.

Charisma is used all the time, probably more than any other stat.

Intelligence can really depend on the DM and how he uses Search vs Study. When my DM changed all trap checks to Intelligence, Intelligence just got much more important.

 

[fluffybunbunkittens]

And if 15 8 15 8 15 8 bothers you, is 14 10 14 10 14 10 really much better?

Not really. The main problem really is just that if someone tells me they're point-buying and gives their class, I can pretty much tell what their stats are going to be.

That's just a lack of variety that makes you question why there even are stats in the first place, if not to create variety within the same class. You're never going to see a smart Fighter, because there is no reward to it.

You need to make different abilities worth it to the class, then you'll start seeing something. Int mod amount of Battle Master dice? Cha mod amount of followers? Something that starts shifting stuff from just going in order of Power Stat, then Con, then 8 or 14 Dex based on armor, then maybe raise a flavor stat to 10.

 

[DrJawaPhD]

The stats that need help are Strength and Intelligence. Str is completely overshadowed by Dex for combat, and Intelligence just doesnt do very much. Both Str and Int are kind of useless as saves as well.

Rules As Written, Strength is a critical stat for everyone and not overshadowed by Dex at all. In practice is becomes terrible because few tables play with Encumbrance. If you want Strength to matter, just enforce Encumbrance rules