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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Elder-Basilisk" data-source="post: 2628893" data-attributes="member: 3146">The phenomenon of multiple ability dependency is very real but it's somewhat overblown.Given the set of stats: 10, 10, 10, 6, 8, 18, which classes could you build that would be strong examples of their class? And which ones would be weaker.Cleric and druid would do just fine. A bard could get by fairly well too.Wizard and sorcerer would hurt for hit points but otherwise they'd be fine. Fighter and barbarian would be short on hit points (and barbarian on AC), but they'd do allright unless they wanted to be archers.A rogue would find himself playing a very non-traditional role if he was going to be effective.A paladin, ranger, or monk would be unable to fill their traditional roles in the party.Now the same question, but with a different stat set:18 14 14 8 8 8Is that a build for a monk, a paladin, a wizard, or a barbarian? You may not be able to tell whether it's a wizard (str 8, dex 14, con 14, int 18, wis 8, cha 8) or a barbarian (str 18, dex 14, con 14, int 8, wis 8, cha 8) but you can probably be pretty sure it's neither a paladin nor a monk--or if it is, the player isn't much of a power gamer.Some classes base their primary ability on enough different stats that they need bonusses in more stats to be effective. That doesn't mean that you can't play a paladin in a low stat game--I've seen very effective paladins in 28 point games, for instance. (And my Living Greyhawk fighter/mage--another MAD class combination--is one of the few 17th level characters in my area who never died through his whole career). You can even make a decent paladin in a 25 point game though, at that point, you have to make some serious sacrifices. I wouldn't try for a paladin or monk on 22 points though. There's just not enough to support the classes. The real effect of MAD is that an effectively powergamed MAD character will look very different from an effectively powergamed non-MAD character. You will see barbarians and wizards in the 18 14 14 8 8 8 mold. You'll see very few paladins that look like that. Why? MAD.</blockquote>

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