Capping Ability Scores

[cradledrapture]

Good idea..bad post button. I think they should both be punished. Its only fair.

 

[airwalkrr]

I mean no offense...but he isnt exactly the nicest individual by going around and talking about peoples mental states when he knows nothing about them...This Dante guy went a bit off the kilt, but he was right, this guy is assumptive and quite rude.

First of all, I was not trying to say anything about anyone's mental state. I merely noted to myself that some of the posters here seem to like the rules as they are while I do not. I appreciate our differences of opinion but I'm rather frustrated that in a forum called "House Rules" the best suggestion most people have been able to give is "don't do this," or "this is pointless." I apologize to those who thought I was calling them crazy.

Second, it has never been my intention to be rude to anyone. dante58701's first post was rife with suggestions and innuendo that I was an idiot with bad ideas.

Capping ability scores is a horrid idea for all the reasons people noted above. Not to mention it doesnt make much sense...People need to stop limiting themselves with ideas of unjustified balance factors...Not to mention the fact that we pitiful humans dont exactly have fireballs being flung up our arses.

Here he a) tells me my idea is "horrid." [sarcasm]That's sure constructive.[/sarcasm] b) implies that I am senseless, c) suggests I am "limiting" myself and that my ideas are "unjustified," and d) suggests I am a fool by ignoring something as obvious as magic. It sounded quite hostile to me and therefore I took offense.

However, I apologize to anyone who feels that I was being rude. I'm trying to have a discussion about a question. I recognize that I have bad ideas from time to time, but I do not need it pointed out in such a harsh, sanctimonious way. If my idea is so god-awful to someone that he or she can't resist using veiled insults against me in his or her post I would simply appreciate if that person didn't respond at all.

 

[ValhallaGH]

Why come online and start asking for approval regarding ability scores or whatnot.

Ah, rhetorical questions, how I love to answer you.
For the same reason you consult other gamers before implementing any house rule, to make sure that you've seen all the implications and are willing to accept them. Every experienced DM has used a house rule and been surprised (and usually displeased) at some of its unintended side effects. Good DMs learn from their mistakes, including the mistake of changing rules without some serious, objective, analysis.

ValhallaGH: yes, this will lower the "buffer zone" of players, and make players a bit more fragile. But assume you're using the standard array, it's going to be quite a few levels before it ever makes a difference.

I realize that it will be many levels before any difference becomes obvious. Though I didn't do so, I meant to imply that the margin of stupid, especially in the OP's game, is already pretty narrow (based upon the assumptions mentioned in my post). So yes, the thin area will disappear further, resulting in no margin for tactical error.

Personally, I like a margin for error, since getting away with suicidally lethal actions is a cool thing to do and I want more cool in my games. Not everyone shares that opinion, which is fine and proper; as such, those people should adjust their games to suit their own tastes and desires. And if they ask for help in those adjustments then I am happy to help them, even if I don't agree with the direction they wish to go in.

 

[drexes]

Ok, First off I admit to skipping a vast majority of the middle posts because that's not my bag, eh. As for the original topic, I personally don't like the cap rule, and here's why. It seems to further benefit those players who take the 'best' race/class combo as opposed to want ever they really want to play. I would personally be worried about players saying with the stat cap as it is, if I want to play a fighter I better use a half-orc, so I can get those 20's. But maybe your group is more story driven than that, but the temtation will be there. Also, it seems to favor those races with higher ability mods. Like for those people using level adjusted races or templates that give stat adjustments. If these problems wouldn't be problems for your group then why not try it, the worst outcome is that you decide it doesn't work and you move on and the best is you find a way to make your game more satisfying.

The only real problem I have with discussing this idea is that stats are the first 'crunch' part of a character and it would seem really hard to tell what kinds of effects the change would have on the game without playtesting. Stats are a fundamental, like dribbling in basketball, changing the rules could completely change the game, whether for the good or bad? There's only one way to tell. Try it.

Drexes

 

[drexes]

Hey guys could I ask a favor. I have no vested interest in your arguement and would like to discuss the original topic of this thread, so that said could you please stop. I am not trying to be rude or hostile or anything I just want to read about House rule topics because I find it entertaining and thought provoking. Again I say with all due respect please stop.

Drexes

 

[Umbran]

Ill admit he is a bit dramatic..but he is right about you. You are assumptive and you are rude.

Moderator:

cradeldrapture, you seem to be new to EN World. Welcome! Please allow me to introduce you to The Rules. These are the basic posting guidelines of these boards. Considering that one temporary ban has already been handed out in this thread, I suggest you review them.

In general - on these forums we strongly prefer folks to be polite and respectful to their fellow posters. Please post accordingly from this point onwards.

If you have problems or comments about moderation, please e-mail one of the moderators, rather than discuss it here. Our e-mail addresses are available in a thread at the top of the Meta Forum.

 

[ValhallaGH]

Edit: nevermind, all is well. Just ignore this little post, or remove it if you have such awesome powers.

 

[JRRNeiklot]

I concur. I, too, find the 30 plus attributes mess with my suspension of disbelief. Just the sight of a 28 strength or dex on a character sheet makes me wince. I've often thought about changing the rules somewhat, but haven't yet found a way that won't screw up things down the road.

Edit: I was replying to Drexes post above, with the I concur, statement. Then all you non-two-fingered typists got in before me!

 

[Plane Sailing]

I can understand, but I dont think we should just ignore this injustice. It keeps getting ignored. Dante got banned for two days because of this sancitmonious hypocrite. If Dante is to be banned...this guy should be banned too...for being just as guilty as Dante. Or Dante should be unbanned with an expected apology from both of them. I will not be happy until justice is served.

Cradledrapture, I've just deleted three of your most recent posts which are purely arguing about a moderators decision, and I've checked up a little of your history too.

This is a warning. Behave properly or you will be banned. If you will not be happy with the current state of affairs then I imagine your stay on ENworld will be a short one considering you only registered today.

 

[hafrogman]

That's a) a world-specific assumption, b) assumes all half-orcs come from a particular culture, never from one dominated by some other race, c) assumes a level of cultural determinism that c1) I, for one, think is just flat-out empirically false, and c2) even if it weren't, would be totally out of place in a game about exceptional, heroic characters.

a) True, so is the assumption that half-orcs are in any way reviled at all.
b) It doesn't assume all of them do, just the one I'm using for my discussion.
c) I will not be addressing this issue, it's not the idea being discussed.

The question was whether the game should further limit the effectiveness of a half-orc wizard beyond it's already in place -2 penalty to intelligence. The thought that a half-orc wizard, by sheer dint of racial ability would never be able to cast a 9th level spell, no matter how exceptional or heroic.

I personally think that the game shouldn't be designed to limit a character in this way. It can be more difficult, but I don't feel it should be impossible. If a DM wishes their world to be designed this way, that is different, but I don't feel the rules need to be adjusted in such a way, independant of the world.