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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Kobold Stew" data-source="post: 9095604" data-attributes="member: 23484">That's fair, and it's why I'm glad to see that no one is suggesting having all characters choose their casting stats. And I agree that default assumptions about ability scores feeds into a presumptive narrative about what the classes are. Wizards-Int, Clerics and Druids-Wis. All fine. Sorcerers and Bards with Charisma can also easily be explained with years of accumulated narrative connections. For me, though, the case of Warlocks is different. First, Warlocks operate out of the normal framework for casting (and the feedback to the recent playtests suggests that that's what warlock players particularly value). Second, the connection with Charisma is less straightforward. I suspect I could make a compelling argument (to some, at least) that the people who sell their souls are those with a low charisma, not a high one. Allowing a greater range of casting stats for the Warlock adds flexibility to what's already an odd class. What they offered in the playtest -- a choice of casting stat for each of three pacts -- kept things loose enough that for Chain and Blade characters could continue with Charisma, or could have an alternative. There was also a chocie for Tome, an (in my opinion) both Wis and Int are better fits than Charisma (even if it made continuity for porting a Tomelock to 2024 rules no longer straightforward; for me that's an acceptable cost for an elegant design). I can talk about why I think it's elegant design, but for space I'll just give two reasons here:I think breaking Charisma's stranglehold on casting stats is a good thing, and (particularly for the many builds that advise taking a 1-level dip in blade, and everything we've seen will suggest this is going to continue in the next PHB) opening up the casting stat allows for a greater diversity of builds -- more options. (Blade dips are popular because they let you choose your attack stat; as long as the option is there it's going to be desireable. I don't see why the choice needs to push you towards Charsima).I think giving a meaningful choice, that is a real choice, at level 1 is a good thing. We've seen good choices added for clerics and Druids at level 1; the choice of spell list teased for the bard gave a similar choice, and some version of that may remain. Giving such a choice to Warlocks too only adds, and means that there is more than one right way of building a warlock out the gate. If the desire of Warlock players is to have a different kind of caster, then I say lean into the differences.</blockquote>

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