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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Nifft" data-source="post: 3183084" data-attributes="member: 6562">Well, it's true that I over-simplified just a little bit. It's certainly possible to build a good playable PC around any one stat. (Let's stick to Core rules, though, just because otherwise you can <a href="http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=320889" target="_blank">add any darn thing to any other darn thing</a>.)Perhaps a less simplified layout would make my view more clear. I'll lay out some character ideas and then I'll "bucket" stats into Primary, Important, Useful, and Dump. Primary is the stat or stats you need to be high. Important will be the stat or stats you need to stay alive, or that help you a lot, but which are less important than your Primary stat(s). Useful have some utility, while Dump stats are those that you can safely flush and stay useful and in character concept.Bard (light armor, lots of skill points):Heal / Buff Guy: Cha, Dex/Con, Int, Str/WisSkill / Lore Guy: Cha, Dex/Int, Con, Wis/StrBuff + Archer: Cha/Dex, Con/Str, Int, WisBuff + Melee (flanker): Dex/Con, Int/Cha, Str, Wis   -- why is Dex primary? Light armor! He's going to be tumbling around flanking. He'll want at least 13 Int so he can also take Combat Expertise.Let's look at a Sorcerer. Your stats are, in order of importance:Cha, Con/Dex, Int, Wis/StrWhy is Dex in there so high? Two reasons:1/ Low level, you need it for AC and attack rolls (with your ray and ranged touch spells).2/ High level, you need it for initiative! When a fight can be won in one round, it's important to be the guy who goes first!A Wizard will look like a Sorcerer, but he has three dump stats instead of one useful and two dump. IMHO this is why Sorcerers are "underpowered" -- they need more skill points per level so they can make Int a dump stat. But that's a rant for another thread.How about a Barbarian?Str/Con, Dex, Wis, Int/Cha -- Wisdom is nice because Barbarians get Listen as a class skill, and because their Will save is not too miserable while raging. Why is Dex so important? Basically, for AC (Light or Medium armor), and for Initiative. Since Rage can only happen on your initiative, and since Rage can raise your Fort and Will saves significantly, it's important to go first.Multi-class Skald Bard/Barbarian (optimal might be Barbarian 1 or 2 / Bard X):Con, Cha/Dex, Str/Int, WisLight armor only, and most of his HD will be of the d6 persuasion, Dex and Con are most vital. Charisma is great for all the usual Bardic reasons. (First level should be Barbarian for the +6 HP. Yeah, eat the 8 skill point loss. I know it's going to hurt but you'll be alive later.)And how about a Ranger?Archery: Dex, Str/Con, Wis/Int, ChaTWF: Dex, Str/Con, Wis/Int, ChaTracker: Wis moves up one categoryOkay, what class concepts DO NOT have a desperate, clingly need for Dex?- Paladin: You might use it if you're a mounted combat guy for your Ride checks, but your skill ranks and some custom skill booster items will overwhelm Dex at mid to high levels. Unlike a Bard or Barbarian, your defensive measures are always active -- you don't need to take an action to get your Fort & Will save bonus.- Buff / Heal Cleric: You are traditionally in heavy armor and at the back of the initiative order. Your most vital spells are frequently counter-measures (including the Cure spells) so you often find yourself Delaying to the end of the round anyway.- Druid over level 5: You need Wis, Con and Int. And "Natural Spell". That's really all you'll ever need. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />Dex and Con are not always in the top category. Sorcerers want Dex less than they want Cha, obviously. However -- and this is my whole entire point -- EVERYONE wants some Dex. Consider how many builds have a Cha, Int, Str, or Wis penalty. Now consider how many have a Dex or Con penalty. Not just a regular 12 or 14 -- but an actual penalty. I'll bet you won't find many.Anyway. Hope this has been helpful, or at least comprehensible. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />Cheers, -- N(all in my humble opinion of course)</blockquote>

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