D&D (2024) Idea for starting ASIs, three way split.

[The Glen]

Why is this better than letting everyone just assign the +2/+1 wherever they want?

"Maybe you got your grandfather's legendary (giant-blood!?!) strength, worked out a lot in the gladiator pits, or have just embraced your calling as a war-hammer wielding fighter... +2 STR."

+1 anywhere just kicks the decision straight to class. Makes the characters cookie cutter. Unless you're deliberately playing against type, you're going to boost the prime requisites that give you the biggest bonus.

 

[Shiroiken]

Pre-1D&D, my group discussed the idea of +1 from race, +1 from class, and +1 of choice, but the choice option couldn't be used with both the race and class to make a +3. This made each race distinct while ensuring that everyone in a class didn't suck at it. I think 1D&D's idea to put it in background is fine, but I wish they had the option of +1/+1/+1, which is useful for rolled ability scores.

 

[Uni-the-Unicorn!]

Was talking about the new rules set and somebody made a suggestion that I'm starting to warm on. Split the 3 points you get for ASI during creation between race, background/origin, and class. You keep the +1 for being a particular race, then when you are growing up you gain another point, and when you train for your new job you get your final point. You can have backgrounds give you two choices and if you have a +2 in one stat already, the class point automatically defaults to the unchosen background option if it would give you a +3.

So shadow elves get +1 Wisdom because religion is paramount to them in the harsh environment of the City of Stars. Your character then goes on to become an acolyte, and you get either +1 Wisdom or +1 Intelligence. If you double down on Wisdom and take cleric, the cleric gives you the +1 Intelligence instead of the normal +1 wisdom. But if your shadow elf takes paladin instead, you get +1 charisma normally.

Isn’t that how PF2 does it?

 

[Quartz]

Drop stat boosts entirely. Humans get two feats plus skills / tools; all other races get one racially appropriate feat plus racial abilities.

 

[The Glen]

Drop stat boosts entirely. Humans get two feats plus skills / tools; all other races get one racially appropriate feat plus racial abilities.

Go back to BECMI? Mechanically it does make some sense in lieu of free-floating increases.

 

[Scribe]

Yep, this is what I do. Class, Race, Background, each provide with a limited set of options, so no you cannot get +Str from Halfling for example, but ultimately you can get your +2/+1 if you want it.

Add in some caps and negative modifiers and suddenly you have a system where ASI is more interesting than 'how do I max out my primary stat'.

 

[aco175]

I can see this being a bit of compromise between the old way where race was important and the new way of whatever you want. I would be more a fan of having a choice of two attributes at each step. A halfling could give a choice of Dex or Wis, rogue also has a choice of Dex or Int, and urchin maybe Dex and Cha. I might even limit any attribute to 2 instead of being a combo to get 3.

 

[Remathilis]

+1 anywhere just kicks the decision straight to class. Makes the characters cookie cutter. Unless you're deliberately playing against type, you're going to boost the prime requisites that give you the biggest bonus.

You're going to have that problem regardless.

In 2014, if I want to make a bard, I pick a race that gives me a +2 to Charisma.
In 2020, I pick whatever race I want and add +2 to Charisma.

The problem is tying Bard to Charisma. You want to stop the cookie-cutting, you need to break the ties between class and ability score. You need do decouple bardic spellcasting, bardic inspiration, etc from Charisma. Make it a feature only of level or proficiency. That way, a bard can been strong, smart, charismatic, dexterous, or whatever without losing core functions of their class.

 

[Art Waring]

I've remove ASI's from background & race and we just add a floating either +2/+1 or +1/+1/+1 when characters generate ability scores. It removes the problem entirely.

 

[Audiomancer]

Realistically, the vast majority of players are going to either:

a) put their ASI in their class’s primary stat, so that they can consistently be decent at what they do, or

b) deliberately put the ASI in a secondary/tertiary stat for a specific character concept (“I want to play a Fighter who’s strong AND charismatic.”)

So, the rules should just explicitly let you put the ASIs wherever you feel like, so that you can play the character you want. It’s a GAME, and the point is to have fun.

(If this also leads to a reduction in tedious Goliath/Halfling arguments on the forums, that’s just an added bonus.)