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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Quasqueton" data-source="post: 765676" data-attributes="member: 3854">How bad is 8 in an ability score?If 10-11 is average (no mod), 12-13 only 'above average' (+1), shouldn't 8-9 be only 'below average' (-1).In another thread here, some folks are looking at an 8 charisma as:Now, although the above quotes were referring specifically to charisma, I'm not starting this thread to discuss just charisma. I'm just using the above quotes as a basis for asking how you see an 8 in any ability score.Does an 8 strength mean puny wimp?Does an 8 dexterity mean clumsy oaf?Does 8 constitution mean wheezing and sickly?Does 8 intelligence mean moron?Does 8 wisdom mean oblivious?I had a dwarf cleric who had a 6 in dexterity. Initially there were some comments about tripping and stumbling while walking across the floor, and about zigging in combat when he should zag to avoid attacks. There was mention about he should never go into a china shop.But I went and compared this score and its modifiers to skill check DCs. With heavy armor, he could easily negotiate most common and moderately difficult terrain by just taking 10. And why would walking through a china shop require a dex check?And for dodging and weaving in battle, a wooden post is considered to have a 0 dexterity (-5 AC), and it doesn't move at all. So I saw 6 dex as just not quite as responsive physically as a normal dex'ed person. He was much better than an unmoving object (+3 AC compared to a stump), and was definitely not  "dodging into" attacks.Have players of D&D gotten so used to high stats that an 8 in something seems awful? Has 12-14 become the new 'average' in player's/DM's minds now? Do DMs start making PCs roll checks for normal actions just because their ability score is below 10?It seems to me that the proper adjectives for the ability score levels would be something like:6-7 low8-9 below average10-11 average12-13 above average14-15 good16-17 very good18-19 greatBut from reading and talking with other players and DMs, it seems that most people have shifted this descriptors by a rank or two.8-9 very low10-11 low12-13 average (or comfortable/acceptable)14-15 above average16-17 good18-19 very good, but there's better (20+)What do you think of an 8 ability score?Quasqueton</blockquote>

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