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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Scars Unseen" data-source="post: 8532014" data-attributes="member: 10196">So I would ditch traditional ability scores altogether at this point.  They don't really represent anything meaningful, nor do the scores themselves have any utility.  Just get rid of them, and work on the assumption that all PCs at a given level and class have roughly the same level of competence that they derive from whatever source they choose.  Want a meathead who barrels into and through any problem they encounter?  Easy.  Want a fighter who studies techniques and strategies and uses them to think their way through a fight?  No need for a special build, just say that's how you fight.  Whatever combination of skill, talent and raw physical ability you want to claim, it all adds up to the same combined ability as another character of the same level and class.  That's why you're the same level.  It makes the math easier to balance, and you don't have to worry about not having the optimal ability scores for what you're trying to do.Then, add in features, through feats, racial abilities, backgrounds or whatever, for things to qualify as exceptional raw ability such as strength, endurance, wit, charm, etc.  But, and this is important, do not let any of those tie into the combat equation.  Not through attack bonuses, AC bonuses, HP, or anything else.  Combat ability is determined by class an level.  Exceptional ability is used in situations outside of combat.  Breaking down doors, persuading guards, etc.  I think that would go a ways from getting rid of the frankly uninteresting aspect of character creation that ability scores have become.  Ability score allocation and ASIs are such a boring way to advance characters, but since they also tend to be the most mathematically relevant way, people choose them in utterly predictable ways most of the time.  So why even have them if they are both boring and predictable?</blockquote>

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