D&D General History Question: Why are DnD Stats in the order they are in?

[Professor Murder]

So yeah. I've been playing since 1st edition and Stats have always been in the order presented. Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma.

Why that order? Anyone know? Why not alphabetical? It could be rules complexity in early editions with all the sub-tables for strength but I'm not sure how well that holds up to inspection.

Anyone? Thoughtful speculation is fine but I'd love an informed answer.

 

[Ixal]

You first have the physical and then the mental attributes. But no idea why they were ordered the way there were within their group.

 

[Professor Murder]

Right, but even within those two arbitrary groupings, they are out of any semblance of order.

 

[HalfOrc HalfBiscuit]

They weren't always in that order.

In OD&D they're listed as STR, INT, WIS, CON, DEX, CHA - the reason given being that the first three are the prime requisites for the three classes (Thieves weren't added until Supplement 1 "Greyhawk").

In 1st ed AD&D DEX is bumped up to fourth in the list - presumably to recognise the addition of the Thief.

They aren't listed as the OP gives them until 2nd ed.

 

[Nefermandias]

They weren't always in that order.

In OD&D they're listed as STR, INT, WIS, CON, DEX, CHA - the reason given being that the first three are the prime requisites for the three classes (Thieves weren't added until Supplement 1 "Greyhawk").

In 1st ed AD&D DEX is bumped up to fourth in the list - presumably to recognise the addition of the Thief.

They aren't listed as the OP gives them until 2nd ed.

4e also differs from the order OP presented:

Strength
Constitution

Dexterity
Intelligence

Wisdom
Charisma

They are grouped by the type of Defense they modify, which you should take the highest between two.

 

[amethal]

I think BECMI might have been STR, CON, DEX - I seem to remember having to learn to switch CON and DEX around when I switched to playing AD&D.

 

[Morrus]

So yeah. I've been playing since 1st edition and Stats have always been in the order presented. Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma.

In 1E, they were Str, Int, Wis, Dex, Con, Cha.

In 4E they were Str, Con, Dex, Int, Wis, Cha.

So it varies by edition.

 

[aco175]

In OD&D they're listed as STR, INT, WIS, CON, DEX, CHA - the reason given being that the first three are the prime requisites for the three classes (Thieves weren't added until Supplement 1 "Greyhawk").

I never knew this, or thought this may be the reason. Thank you

I just remember the Str, Int, Wis, Dex, Con, Cha, and sometimes COM. (like vowels). I recall when 3e swapped them around, I resisted the change for some reason but now fine it fine with 5e.

 

[Orius]

They weren't always in that order.

In OD&D they're listed as STR, INT, WIS, CON, DEX, CHA - the reason given being that the first three are the prime requisites for the three classes (Thieves weren't added until Supplement 1 "Greyhawk").

In 1st ed AD&D DEX is bumped up to fourth in the list - presumably to recognise the addition of the Thief.

They aren't listed as the OP gives them until 2nd ed.

This.

Str, Int, Wis, were the Prime Requisites of the Fighting-Man, Magic-User and Cleric respectively. A high enough Prime Requisite entitled the PC to bonus XP, and at least some of the early editions required a minimum in the prime to take the three basic classes (I don't remember if the requirements were present in OD&D or Holmes). The other three scores were secondary, and in the original game were the only scores that had dice roll modifiers.

1e and classic D&D expanded the use of ability scores and added more modifiers. Dex was likely bumped up because of the thief. This is where the old school order of Str, Int, Wis, Dex, Con, Cha comes from.

2e then changed the order to Str, Dex, Con, Int, Wis, Cha grouping the stats into physical and mental blocks. The Prime Requisite minimums and XP bonuses remained. 3e removed the concept of the Prime Requisite, so the older order no longer made any logical sense, and kept the 2e order. It had its own internal logic and had been around for more than a decade so players had grown used to it.

 

[DEFCON 1]

I will never forgive Mr. Gygax for using two words that start with the same letter for his six abilities. It was only six words... he didn't have a thesaurus handy to find a way to give each ability its own initial letter, thereby letting everyone write them down easier? Phooey! Phooey on Gary!