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Don't play "stupid" characters. It is ableist.
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<blockquote data-quote="DND_Reborn" data-source="post: 8471664" data-attributes="member: 6987520"><p>Very well said.</p><p></p><p>As I see it (as I also used to think Attributes was a better term), the difference is primarily:</p><p></p><p>Attribute: a measure of a characteristic about something or someone. In D&D terms, literally how <em>strong</em>, <em>smart</em>, etc. you are.</p><p></p><p>Ability: a measure of the effectiveness to which you can apply something (really, an Attribute). In D&D terms, how well you are at applying whatever "strength", "intelligence", etc. you have.</p><p></p><p>An INT 18 PC would be very adept at using their Intelligence (however much they have) effectively, not imply they are necessarily that "smart".</p><p></p><p>Personally, I get caught up a lot in terms of thinking of abilities as attributes because in prior editions, they really were more being a measure of how much you had, not how well you used it.</p><p></p><p>For the most part, the 5E interpretation is ok (not <em>quite</em> what I prefer, but whatever...), and it supports why a gnome with a STR 20 can benefit to get a +5 to attack and damage rolls. (I am fine, honestly, with that part... it is the carrying 600 lb. I don't like....).</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="DND_Reborn, post: 8471664, member: 6987520"] Very well said. As I see it (as I also used to think Attributes was a better term), the difference is primarily: Attribute: a measure of a characteristic about something or someone. In D&D terms, literally how [I]strong[/I], [I]smart[/I], etc. you are. Ability: a measure of the effectiveness to which you can apply something (really, an Attribute). In D&D terms, how well you are at applying whatever "strength", "intelligence", etc. you have. An INT 18 PC would be very adept at using their Intelligence (however much they have) effectively, not imply they are necessarily that "smart". Personally, I get caught up a lot in terms of thinking of abilities as attributes because in prior editions, they really were more being a measure of how much you had, not how well you used it. For the most part, the 5E interpretation is ok (not [I]quite[/I] what I prefer, but whatever...), and it supports why a gnome with a STR 20 can benefit to get a +5 to attack and damage rolls. (I am fine, honestly, with that part... it is the carrying 600 lb. I don't like....). [/QUOTE]
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