Voadam
Legend
AD&D has a big middle of no bonuses and few bonuses then significantly more extreme bonuses the higher the score, increasingly rewarding incrementally better scores at the high end. The difference between a 17 strength (+1 to hit +1 damage) and 18 percentile strength (varying from +1 +3 to +3 +6!) is mechanically significant and impacts how play feels. Doing a minimum of 7 damage means you one shot a lot of humanoids while the 17 strength minimum 2 damage guy is not close.
So +1 at 11 to 12 is much different than 17 to 18.
And so for 1e players with the DMG stat ability generators and later with the UA human rolls chart generating much higher scores than 3d6 the adjustments and caps can mechanically matter in an impactful way.
So +1 at 11 to 12 is much different than 17 to 18.
And so for 1e players with the DMG stat ability generators and later with the UA human rolls chart generating much higher scores than 3d6 the adjustments and caps can mechanically matter in an impactful way.