D&D General Hypothetical: D&D without ability scores (or bonuses)

[Reynard]

If we’re going that route I think we should remove ability mods from saves as well. Leaving them in retains most of the issues with some scores being far more important than others.

Of course the question then becomes do we go with three saves or five?

I like the IDEA of the old saves, in that there are these specific things in the world that can cause harm, but I don't like that list.

What if saves were based on the damage types instead, with effects expanded beyond simple damage. "Make a save vs necrotic" or whatever.

 

[jmartkdr2]

And of course the other direction to go, rather than removing scores or greatly reducing their impact, is to put a lot of effort into balancing them and making sure everyone has ways to use all of them.

For example, what if certain schools of magic required specific ability scores to master beyond your class’s main score - ie all enchantments used charisma, all abjurations use constitution, all summons use intelligence, and so on. Then being a tough wizard or being a charming one means your spell selection is different, not just the skills you use when you’re somehow out of spells.

Doing this for maritals would be a lot easier with a general maneuver system.