D&D 4E How would you handle the basic stat conception in 4E?

[Incenjucar]

So... uh...

How would you survive a dragon's attack if you assumed total body support ability led to the overall strength score rather than the strength score being left as fast-twitch, combat-relevant strength after compensation for body support...?

 

[pawsplay]

Lifting capacity, under 3.5, is already not linear.

The idea of "linear IQ" is just nonsensical. You can't measure IQ by the bucketful.

 

[Terramotus]

It's pointless to keep stat generation follow the bell curve when the conflict resolution mechanic does not. Every result on a d20 is equally likely, so status under a strict system like this would be mostly irrelevant compared to level and class abilities. Which is no more realistic than the starting point.

I'm not sure why you would want to change the system this way. D&D isn't a hyper-realistic game, and this change won't make it more so. The changes required to bring everything into line snowball until virtually nothing is left of the original system. GURPS would be more appropriate for this, or a whole new system.

 

[pawsplay]

GURPS has actually moved away from the idea of concrete attributes. Intelligence, for instance, is no longer linked to IQ directly, and you can buy extra Strength for doing damage.