D&D 5E Idea for removing the ability score cap...

[Grazzt]

Sorry if this is a stupid question or maybe I am blind, but I can't find the rule about the attribute cap in the Basic rules. Where is this mentioned?

Page 57 under Ability Scores and Modifiers

 

[CM]

Instead of removing the 20 cap, why not create post-20th-level feats that grant superhuman abilities and require a 20 in the relevant stat? Just some ideas:

Epic Strength
You are capable of superhuman feats of strength. Some examples are shown below:

• Add your proficiency bonus to Strength ability checks. If you are trained in Athletics, add your proficiency bonus twice to Strength (Athletics) checks.
• You can throw boulders weighing up to 50 pounds. Treat them as a proficient thrown weapon dealing 1d10 bludgeoning damage.
• You can break through normal wooden doors and walls, treating them as difficult terrain.
• Your carrying and lifting limits are double what your Strength would normally allow.
• You can shove creatures of any size. If you choose to push them away, you can push them up to 20 feet.

Epic Dexterity
You are capable of superhuman feats of agility. Some examples are shown below:

• Add your proficiency bonus to Dexterity ability checks. If you are trained in any Dexterity skills, add your proficiency bonus twice to checks of those skills (does not stack with expertise.
• You have advantage on Initiative rolls.
• When you stand up from prone, it only costs 5 feet of your movement.
• Your speed is not reduced by difficult terrain or when balancing on narrow surfaces.
• You can move up to half your speed up a vertical surface, after which you fall if you do not land on or grab hold of another surface.

Yes, they're overpowered, but isn't that the point of epic play? I think stuff like this is less likely to break the game's math, and require less NPC/monster modification as well.

 

[Stormonu]

1E & 2E had a cap of 25 for abilities (although Strength more or less capped out at 30, due to the weird 18/ % Strength). Of course, ability boosts by level were not available (though Unearthed Arcana brought it in for Cavaliers and Paladins, who could raise their ability by a % of a point each level).

I don't think it will break 5E to raise the cap or remove it, but it will certainly change some parts of the game. If you want to "balance" it, you might want to do something like enemies get a +1 to hit or AC and +1 hp/HD for every 2 points someone is over the cap.

 

[vecna00]

I don't think it will break 5E to raise the cap or remove it, but it will certainly change some parts of the game. If you want to "balance" it, you might want to do something like enemies get a +1 to hit or AC and +1 hp/HD for every 2 points someone is over the cap.

That's pretty much what I was planning, it's something that can easily be done on the fly too.

 

[Evenglare]

This topic can be resolved in 3 sentences.

Stat maximums were implemented for game balance. Feel free to remove these limits. If you do remove those limits you are playing outside the game as intended and as such you revoke your right to complain that the game is unbalanced at that point.