Each Stats Schtick

[WyzardWhately]

STR may also influence encumbrance.

This can be non-trivial. There's few things more delightful than my PCs delving into an old-school dungeon and then realizing they don't have the raw carrying capacity to haul back their loot. Logistics for the win, yo.

Seriously, though, I do hope INT does a lot more than we've seen so far. Skills not being affected by it was a great blow to my confidence.

 

[jaelis]

Don't forget that Int can apply to AC instead of Dex.

 

[Voss]

Dex affects initiative, not strength.
See: all of the sample characters from DDI. Particularly the ranger

 

[Stalker0]

STR may also influence encumbrance.

Seriously, though, I do hope INT does a lot more than we've seen so far. Skills not being affected by it was a great blow to my confidence.

My guess is that encumbrance will focus more on armor and shields, not on total encumbrance. So paladins would still need a least a decent strength to have the good gear. But that would mean wizards still dump strength like there's no tomorrow.

As for int, yeah I really hope we haven't seen everything yet, because right now it is the dump stat unless your a wizard.

The other possibility is feats. For example, we have seen the golden wyvern adept that used a wizard's wisdom bonus to determine its effect. You could see a fighter feat that adds your int to something for example. So while you could dump the stat, you can get a benefit for those that want it, similar to how a 3.5 fighter with a 13 int could get combat expertise and improved trip.

 

[Surgoshan]

I could see wisdom or intelligence being necessary for more powerful magic items, though that might be kind of dick.

 

[KidSnide]

DEX Its Schtick would be Armour Class Bonus(ACB), while not as universally useful as it was in 3e it still something you want if you ever get caught by Martial monsters or characters.

Also: Initiative.

As far as I can tell, the skills fall out:

Strength (1): Athletics
Constitution (1): Endurance
Dexterity (3): Acrobatics, Stealth, Thievery
Intelligence (3): Arcana, History, Religion
Wisdom (5): Dungeoneering, Heal, Insight, Nature, Perception
Charisma (3): Bluff, Diplomacy, Streetwise

...although I may have missed a few skills.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

You only missed intimidate (cha)

Intelligence will likely be the stat for many Feats and Powers, especially for the Wizard and Warlord, but NOT exclusively them. I suspect that there will be some really nice ones for other classes simply to give you a real dillema on what to dump.

Fitz