Low ability scores -- more fun?

[the Jester]

As the author of the quote in the OP, I have to say that I have always found pcs with a low stat to be very fun, both to play and to dm for.

Now, I don't think it would be too much fun to play a pc who had a 3, 5 and 6 and whose highest stat was 13- but a single low stat, or a couple of low stats offset by a high stat, or even several low stats offset by a really high stat? Hell yeah, I'm there!

In my 3e halfling game, one player wanted to play a kobold and rolled a crap stat... which he put into Str, leaving him (with penalty) with a 1 Str! And it was great! It led to a ton of awesomely fun and hilarious roleplaying moments. I played a character with a Cha 3 in the 2e days, and again, a lot of awesome roleplaying moments. Same with the bard/assassin with a Wis 1 that was in my game back in 2e (the player offered to play a character with a stat of my choice of 1 if I'd let him be a bard/assassin- I still used the 1e assassin in 2e).

A lot of it depends on the player's attitude about it- the best attitude is, "How can I make this low stat more fun for everyone? How I can turn up the funny with it?"

 

[Garthanos]

Extreme caricatures ..... do not interest me, but then I have never been in to slap stick. Implying that this somehow makes for a "better" game experience... is ummm very subjective.

 

[Celebrim]

Extreme caricatures ..... do not interest me, but then I have never been in to slap stick.

Funny, they seem to interest you just fine when you want to use them to insult other posters.

 

[Garthanos]

Funny, they seem to interest you just fine when you want to use them to insult other posters.

Insult? who?

Caricatures with one part distorted in one way(really large or small) and another distorted (really large or small) in another way... its an art technique some people are very fond of.. just like slapstick. Read back how many are talking about using these extreme negatives compensated by extreme positives as the inspiration for humorous antics.
It seems intentional behavior (and enjoyed) it shouldn't be insulting.

I don't exclude the possibility of subtle tragic heroes inspired by "dump stats"... but I also don't consider them a lofty goal either. I am in a snarly mood and probably more negative than I need to be and for that I apologize.

 

[Theroc]

In my 3e halfling game, one player wanted to play a kobold and rolled a crap stat... which he put into Str, leaving him (with penalty) with a 1 Str! And it was great! It led to a ton of awesomely fun and hilarious roleplaying moments.

Um... doesn't that mean he basically could not cary... anything? Light load is 3 LB, and heavy load is 10 LB.

I mean, that can make for a fun character, I guess, but I'm trying to figure out how he survived. Did the other players carry all of his stuff for him?

 

[the Jester]

Um... doesn't that mean he basically could not cary... anything? Light load is 3 LB, and heavy load is 10 LB.

I mean, that can make for a fun character, I guess, but I'm trying to figure out how he survived. Did the other players carry all of his stuff for him?

Often, yes. Also, he didn't have much stuff- he was a bard/sorcerer (later prestige classed with a homebrewed jester class) so he relied largely on spells and skills.

Awesome character.

 

[the Jester]

Implying that this somehow makes for a "better" game experience... is ummm very subjective.

Dude, implying that anything makes for a "better" game experience is very subjective.

 

[Garthanos]

Dude, implying that anything makes for a "better" game experience is very subjective.

right just like "more fun"

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I was just thinking...maybe the time after next (my next PC to see play is already half made) will be a PC who doesn't meet the stereotype for his chosen class(es).

For example, a Ftr with a Str between 10-13. Instead, his physical attributes are concentrated in Dex and Con, and he really emphasizes Int or Wisdom...kind of like Ulysses, but without the great physical strength to rely on.

Or, perhaps a spellcaster who has just enough in his casting stat to go a few levels before NEEDING to boost his casting stat...or changing classes.

A fat, clumsy rogue? One who is more of a thug & extortionist (Str & Cha) than a sleek, street-fighting machine.

 

[Garthanos]

For example, a Ftr with a Str between 10-13. Instead, his physical attributes are concentrated in Dex and Con, and he really emphasizes Int or Wisdom...kind of like Ulysses, but without the great physical strength to rely on.

For the Greeks a clever nobleman hero meets the stereotype it is perhaps questionable whether this cleverness is charisma or intelligence or wisdom... but really that meant they were emphasizing all around capability... or adversely ... clever can mean you make awesome feints and leave wonderful false openings to sucker them on to your blade and know just where to hit so it hurts when you hit... and similar things boost your to hit and damage... now which attribute is that??

Game mechanics sometimes induce/enforce stereotypes... that may be over modern ... dumb jock ... wimpy nerd etc instead of helping people to experience the heritage of legends and myth. Hyper specialization is a thing of the modern world

Ancient Celts had heros who knew multiple trade skills to prove their social worthiness (this diversification was not seen as destroying their competence but rather as a sign of it) and their mightiest hero berserks learned blood magic alongside blade work and other things from war witches.