new to ad&d, need help with understanding stat scores

[edwee]

Ok so I've only played 3.5 and 4.0 editions and I've decided to take a small fraction of that knowledge and take it to an old game I used to love playing, Baldurs Gate. I was making a character, and I got a str score of 18/25 and I have no idea what I'm looking at. What is the /25 mean and is it better to have a higher or lower score after the slash. (Like is a /25 better/worse than a /50 or whatever)? Thank you

 

[jamorea]

Percentile strength. If your strength score is an 18, you got to roll percentile. And yes, an 18/00 (100) is better than an 18/01. Higher is better.

 

[Sekhmet]

Excellent question.
In AD&D, non-fighter, paladin, ranger types cannot have a Str. higher than 18 naturally, and to give those fighting types an edge over the others, the 18/-- number was added.

The "weakest" is 18/01, and the "strongest" is 18/00 on the percentile die.
You absolutely want 18/00, which gives you +7/+14 (Or maybe that is for 25? Base 18 str is +3/+6), if I recall correctly.
Compared to 3.5, you would need a 23STR to equal an 18/00 (+7).

The equivalents are as follows:
18/01–18/50 = 19
18/51–18/75 = 20
18/76 –18/90 = 21
18/91–18/99 = 22
18/00 = 23
19–20 = 24
21–22 = 25
22–23 = 26
24–25 = 27

 

[TanisFrey]

Excellent question.
In AD&D, non-fighter, paladin, ranger types cannot have a Str. higher than 18 naturally, and to give those fighting types an edge over the others, the 18/-- number was added.

% Str did not add to hit and to damage evenly. The 18/00 gave you +3 to hit and +7 to damage.

A cleric (or other non fighter-type) with a Str score of 18 did not get to roll the % dice.

However there were some magic items that allowed you to replace your Str, if it was higher than your normal. Gauntlets of Ogre Strength did this, they gave you 18/00 I think.

Or you could use wish spells to increase you natural Str an unlimited to the system cap of 25. 1 wish spell allowed you to increase a ability score by 1 until it hit 16, then it cost you 10 wish spells per point until 19, then it cost 20 wish spells until 25 maximum.

 

[Sekhmet]

TanisFrey: I'm fairly certain you just argumentatively agreed with me. Thanks for pointing out 18/00 was 3/7 and not 3/6, though.

 

[TanisFrey]

Sekhmet: I did agree with you, and added other details of how stats worked in 1 & 2 ed, they may or may not be implemented in the CRPG in question.

 

[Sekhmet]

Do you recall if STR 25 was 7/14? I don't have my books handy, sadly.

 

[TanisFrey]

Do you recall if STR 25 was 7/14? I don't have my books handy, sadly.

Why recall? My 1st printing Deities and Demigods is at hand. Yes, Str 25 in 1 & 2 ed was +7 to hit, +14 to Damage, Weight Allowance 15,000 Lb, Open Doors 23 in 24 (9 in 10), Bend Bars/Lift Gates 100% (as titan)

 

[Lilaxe]

In 1E Rangers and Paladins could have % str scores. There are several examples in modules and the rogues gallery showing this although the PHB is not that clear on the matter.

I don't know 2E so not sure if they changed it

 

[Sekhmet]

Yes, Rangers and Paladins could have percentile strength in 2e.