FreeTheSlaves
Adventurer
One of the consequences of the new flat math / emphasis on ability scores is that in D&DN the scores are an amalgamation of raw talent and developed skill. Fine so far? Good.
Well now I've got a wee problem, stats go up by level and naturally the prime stat is going to approach the 20 ceiling as the returns per point of allocation is too good to ignore. Nothing too bad here, although I do wonder why bumping a 18 to 19 costs the same from bumping an 8 to a 9 - I mean elite athletes improve incrementally by slender margins whereas Joe Newbie could see a 20% increase in say 4 weeks. Simplicity is a virtue, but does it outweigh a nod to the bell curve sacred bovine?
Anyway I digress, the problem I have is the narrative attached to ability scores.
Say if my fighter has 16 str at level 1, well I'll make up a character story that accounts for the impressive, but less than peak ability in this area. Then the levels begin to accumulate and stat bumps come & go and soon I'm looking at the post-18 range and scratching my head. Is this the same character I started with?
Ok, I can get with the program, abilities represent skill too now. But wait a sec, my carry load just increased too. I know about pack fitness but my guy can now also bend thicker bars and throw heavier things as examples. He actually is stronger.
I know, I don't have to bump the prime scores, heck I don't have to bump anything, my buddies won't mind. Erm, except those higher level monsters are getting a bit tough - or is that just me?
The above is a bit of a ramble, but is there a problem here?
Well now I've got a wee problem, stats go up by level and naturally the prime stat is going to approach the 20 ceiling as the returns per point of allocation is too good to ignore. Nothing too bad here, although I do wonder why bumping a 18 to 19 costs the same from bumping an 8 to a 9 - I mean elite athletes improve incrementally by slender margins whereas Joe Newbie could see a 20% increase in say 4 weeks. Simplicity is a virtue, but does it outweigh a nod to the bell curve sacred bovine?
Anyway I digress, the problem I have is the narrative attached to ability scores.
Say if my fighter has 16 str at level 1, well I'll make up a character story that accounts for the impressive, but less than peak ability in this area. Then the levels begin to accumulate and stat bumps come & go and soon I'm looking at the post-18 range and scratching my head. Is this the same character I started with?
Ok, I can get with the program, abilities represent skill too now. But wait a sec, my carry load just increased too. I know about pack fitness but my guy can now also bend thicker bars and throw heavier things as examples. He actually is stronger.
I know, I don't have to bump the prime scores, heck I don't have to bump anything, my buddies won't mind. Erm, except those higher level monsters are getting a bit tough - or is that just me?
The above is a bit of a ramble, but is there a problem here?