Gen Con: Slavicsek says core books will continue to be published, other tidbits

[Charwoman Gene]

Mouse, people already pick class then race based off the stat bumps.

Adding a third potential ability makes this problem less severe. And if they add a second bump to humans, it allows them to compete.

 

[Mouseferatu]

Mouse, people already pick class then race based off the stat bumps.

Adding a third potential ability makes this problem less severe. And if they add a second bump to humans, it allows them to compete.

I know people already do this. But no, I don't think adding a third option makes it less severe. I think it makes it worse. Because now, instead of cherry-picking races based on whether they have at least one "important" stat, people will be picking based on whether they can get both important stats.

Again, not everyone does this, of course. But I expect it'll increase, rather than decrease. I could be wrong; I hope I am.

But as I said, I'm over the whole "using stats to differentiate races" thing anyway.

(If I read Thalmin's comment in the Red Box preview thread, humans still only get one stat bump.)

 

[mach1.9pants]

Well I won't think it will change things one way or the other. Those that min/max will still min/max and this will give them a few more options. min/maxing (for playing or just for the mathematical joy of it) is a huge part of the game, just look how popular the char op boards are. Those that want to design their PC around an idea will still do so and also have a little more mechanical flexibility when doing so.

 

[Majoru Oakheart]

As far as I can tell, there is no players handbook 4. The essentials philosophy appears to be continuing into the future. Instead of players handbooks we will see theme books like heroes of shadow. Where there will be races, classes, feats, and story information about one subject.

 

[ArcaneSpringboard]

But then, I've finally come around to the belief that the game's hypothetical next edition (in a long, long time ) should slaughter the sacred cow of racial stat bonuses, and mechanically differentiate the races entirely with nifty little abilities/powers/quirks.

Edit: Come to think of it, that'd be a great use for the new "theme" mechanic. When you pick your race, you get that race's default theme. If you want to choose a different theme, you can do so, but then you're choosing to deliberately minimize the impact of your race for some other background element of your character. And of course, you can't choose a racial theme for a race not your own.

This.

I was actually just thinking yesterday that they should get rid of the stat bonuses. It's only the PCs that it matters for, and they're already exceptional.

But at the same time, go back to the 3-18 stat range. 18 used to be really impressive...amazing. I'd like to see it that way again. Now, a 22 Strength is typical by level 8 for any fighters.

Personally, I don't see the benefit anymore for having stats increase...it only causes issues with the math in the end.

 

[doctorhook]

This.

I was actually just thinking yesterday that they should get rid of the stat bonuses. It's only the PCs that it matters for, and they're already exceptional.

But at the same time, go back to the 3-18 stat range. 18 used to be really impressive...amazing. I'd like to see it that way again. Now, a 22 Strength is typical by level 8 for any fighters.

Personally, I don't see the benefit anymore for having stats increase...it only causes issues with the math in the end.

I can't speak about the mathematical aspect of it, but stat increases do have a psychological effect on players of the game: they are an indicator of character improvement over time, due to experience.

That said, I think it would be cool if they returned the "nostalgia factor" of ability scores from three to eighteen (or, practically speaking, from nine to fifteen for most PCs), even if that range is a pretty arbitrary one -- arbitrary by virtue of the method Messrs Gygax and Arneson settled on to determine stats.

 

[Charwoman Gene]

people will be picking based on whether they can get both important stats.

They already do. Why do you think they want a con/int race?

The situation now is that certain people will only play double stat races for their class. The new situation will see more variety.