Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="EzekielRaiden" data-source="post: 6858639" data-attributes="member: 6790260">This is why I think spellcasters should be forced to think about multiple ability scores in precisely the same way that physically-oriented characters need to think about multiple ability scores.For a physically-oriented character--hereafter "a Fighter" even though I know there are many other such classes--it's pretty much impossible to get away with focusing on just one stat and doing well at your job. Dexterity comes close, for finesse Fighters, but many people find this to be a serious flaw of Dex. Even then, though, you really want at least two of the physical scores to be good numbers, typically Con + one of Str or Dex. This helps to keep characters in balance, as there are trade-offs for any given character choosing to specialize in one or another. Str+Con gives slightly better defenses (or the biggest weapons) and the carrying capacity to pull off a variety of tricks, but sacrifices speed (Initiative, rather) and a common target for offensive abilities (Dex saves). Dex+Con gives the best ranged weapons and better secondary stats (as stated), but sacrifices top-end defense and, if truly dumping Str, potentially sacrifices inventory flexibility.These kinds of trade-offs basically don't happen for spellcasters. You pump your core stat as high as it will go...and that's that. It gives you everything: the DC of your effects, bonus prepared spells (if applicable), the magnitude of ability-dependent effects. There's never a spell-related compromise between getting some effects and not others. (Technically, 5e allows you to "dump" even your spellcasting stat, if you choose only those spells which are ability-independent e.g. no +Cha damage, no saves, but that's a trade-off about zero investment vs. some investment, not which spellcasting stat to invest in.)I don't, precisely, know how this should be addressed. But I definitely think it should be. Splitting up things like what determines your DCs, gives bonus damage, influences number of targets, etc. would be a "nerf" to spellcasters in a way that makes them more interesting rather than less, and would help alleviate some of the issues cited in the OP.</blockquote>

Verification