Fixing defenses through ability boosts

[eriktheguy]

There's plenty of discussion of similar options http://www.enworld.org/forum/4e-fan...ves-feat-tax-solution-hit-f-r-w-defenses.html. I think adding to 3 ability scores is better than all 6, as it avoids the "why is my Barbarian so darn smart, again?" feeling, but covers all of your FRW defenses if you spread the ability score increases.

I should mention at that point that I have already read that thread thoroughly and think that it is one of the most brilliant discussions to take place on this website. In fact, the house rules suggested there are pretty much what inspired me to create this house rule. I read the feat about increasing 3 ability scores instead of 2, and thought to myself 'what is the purpose of improving only two ability scores'.
I realized that the only difference between improving 6 scores instead of 3 are these
-skill bonuses will scale faster with level for your non-best stat skills (I prefer this)
-certain builds such as rage barbs will be able to increase all defenses instead of 2
-A barbarian progressing from average (10 int) to genius (18 int) on his way to level 30 does not seem far fetched to me. Level 30 characters are on their way to godhood and have probably learned a lot about the world.

The main drawback of my scheme is that all ability scores progressing at once is very flavorless. I like the current progression system, but I don't like that it screws over many class combinations. I think that boosting 3 ability scores is a good solution, but I just don't like the fact that every character has 3 stagnant ability scores that affect nothing and never change.
Almost every character starts with 8, 10, 10 to three different stats (one from each category), which become 10,12,12 by epic tier. It just bothers me that every character essentially only has 3 ability scores...

Oh well, I think this thread is probably more rage against 4e than a legitimate idea. I think I'm going to go with the 3 ability scores at levels 4/8 + 10n system (in which case I will probably allow barbs to keep their AC bonus).

sigh

I just... (tear).. there were so many good improvements with 4e that I fell in love with it, and now I'm finding all its flaws and...
I liked things in 3e and I like things in 4e and I just wish there were some way to make everything better sometimes. I hate to say this but I'm actually sort of looking forward to 5e...

PS: I am implementing the bonus bonus to attack and NADs at 5/15/25 fix for the math but I am going to do it passively to the monsters' defenses and all their non-AC attacks rather than bugging the PCs about it. Obviously expertise (and the epic defense feats) will be banned.

 

[Neubert]

I just... (tear).. there were so many good improvements with 4e that I fell in love with it, and now I'm finding all its flaws and...

That is so funny, I got the same feeling too not long ago. It sort of snuck up on me when more and more flaws were exposed. In the back of my mind I could feel it coming, but didn't really realize it (or maybe I didn't want to realize it) until it was "too late".

Having said that, I am actually looking at doing something different for a fix. What if ability scores only added to defenses at level 1 and after that they (defenses, all 3) simply go up with level? So players end up gaining a +4 to all defenses around level 28.

 

[eriktheguy]

That is so funny, I got the same feeling too not long ago. It sort of snuck up on me when more and more flaws were exposed. In the back of my mind I could feel it coming, but didn't really realize it (or maybe I didn't want to realize it) until it was "too late".

Having said that, I am actually looking at doing something different for a fix. What if ability scores only added to defenses at level 1 and after that they (defenses, all 3) simply go up with level? So players end up gaining a +4 to all defenses around level 28.

I think I would gripe/get confused about having a +6 wis mod, but only my +4 from level 1 gets added to Will def. I know it's a stupid reason to gripe, but it basically advertises the fact that the rules don't work and involves more book keeping.