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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Tectuktitlay" data-source="post: 6861159" data-attributes="member: 82812">Well, Strength and Dexterity are only so innate. A lot of the physical ability scores, more than mental ones (but the latter to a degree as well) can be trained. Almost anyone can work out enough to be incredibly strong, or agile. Train their muscle memory, etc. So no, I think physical activities in general ARE much more dependent on your actual ability scores themselves. But there are, throughout literature, people who seem utterly mundane in every way, who might be all three (uncharismatic, unintelligent, and unwise), who are still capable of channeling raw magical power in ways far beyond the intelligent, or wise, or charismatic. The otherwise mundane everyman who is unremarkable in most every way, yet a powerhouse of magical might, is a very common trope and one D&D has a particularly difficult time simulating. As for physical stats? Yeah, I find some of their interactions a bit..."off", too. Strength has little to do with the ability to actually connect with a weapon. With the raw damage when you do hit, for many types of weapons? Sure. But actually connecting? Not really, no. More strength allows you to wield larger weapons easier, but not particularly connect with them more often. An agile gymnast type with a battleaxe will be connecting a whole lot more often than a powerful brute who isn't particularly agile. But when that brute connects with a hit? Limbs might fly off. Literally. Sure, I agree your solution is easy enough for most campaigns, and I would have zero problem with a caster using an alternative stat. And it needn't be a mental stat, either. Strength is probably the only one that doesn't make sense for a spellcasting stat. But...Dexterity? Are spells dependent on precise physical movements, rapidly pulling out the right components at the right time in the right order, moving your fingers in exquisitely intricate motions? Dexterity makes a lot of sense to make those kinds of casters better at casting than any of the mental stats would. Does your magic system require someone to be able to be a conduit for sheer power that is exhausting to you, physically? Requires you to maintain intense movements and motions for long periods of time without faltering while channeling this power? Constitution makes an awful lot of sense for a caster like that (Constitution makes a lot of sense for psionic characters, as well, in fact). Just saying, the interactions of D&D stats while alright, can often leave a lot to be desired, and can actually create a disconnect where situations make no sense, which can pull you out of suspension of disbelief. 5e is a fine system. I like it. And yes, many solutions can be quickly resolved, no big deal.</blockquote>

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