Classes, Ability Scores and Synergy.

[erik_the_guy]

Classes, Ability Scores, and Synergy.
In the new edition, you get to add the best of two skill modifiers to each defense. STR or CON to fortitude, DEX or INT to AC/reflex etc...
This works well with a few of the classes. For rogues, you can choose builds that rely on Dex and either Str or Cha. In either case your highest scores will benefit your AC/Reflex, and either your Fortitude or Will defenses.
What about other class builds that encourage you to build up abilities related to the same defense.
For example, War Wizards are encouraged to sink their two best scores into intelligence and dexterity. This will almost certainly leave the fortitude and will defense fairly low.
Why would a wizard with a high intelligence score rationally put anything into dexterity? It will not benefit your defenses and rarely your spells. Place the points into wisdom or constitution, where you will get a comparable implement , increased defense, and maybe some hit points.
There are very few builds that call for situations such as this, such as a wand/war wizard, or a hammer/axe fighter. Are class builds that call for two primary abilities in the same category not a little bit worse than all others?

 

[Mort_Q]

C
Why would a wizard with a high intelligence score rationally put anything into dexterity? It will not benefit your defenses and rarely your spells. Place the points into wisdom or constitution, where you will get a comparable implement , increased defense, and maybe some hit points.?

Comparable? Matter of opinion.

A high DEX wand WIZ hits things.

That's useful in some situations.

More useful than high WIS or CHR?

Also a matter of opinion.

 

[Ganders]

Yes, raising two matching stats is unfortunate. However, there are other benefits sometimes, especially feats. Some of the best feats for increasing damage, for instance, are Hammer Rhythm, Deadly Axe, Hammer Mastery, Axe Mastery. The prerequisites for all of those are high Str and Con. Also, dwarves get certain benefits with axes and hammers AND have a con bonus, so it all fits together well. In short, yes it IS bad, but the feats make up for it.

You say "There are very few builds that call for situations such as this". I'd say those few builds exist specifically because of powerful feats (and sometimes even race synergy or paragon path). Well... future products should (if they're good quality) introduce more feats like those, whose prerequisites demand weak attribute choices (int and dex together, or wis and cha together), thus improving the builds that seem bad now, making them competitive with the ones that seem best now. That's the essence of a balanced game: many different character types can all be good.

 

[Seolfor]

To the OP - youre absolutely correct - the entire INT and DEX duality is a poor design decision.

People also need to stop comparing INT/DEX to STR/CON .... CON is ONLY redundant with STR for FORT saves.

Otherwise CON is essential across the board - for ALL classes - it increase your HP, your heal-value per Surge AND your number of surges per day. So if a Fighter pumps points into CON, its not just for those feats and certain weapons .. hes enjoying HP and surge benefits too.

What does the WIZ with high DEX benefit from, apart from once per encounter bonus to attack? Higher initative is ONE ... is this good enough? Debatable.


I just started a thread on the related issue - How ELADRINS with a +2 in INT and DEX are clearly worse off.