Reshuffling the Ability Scores' ... Abilities

[Nyeshet]

Charisma affecting action points is a good idea. I already have modified other aspects of the game. For instance, the Con mod is added to the 10 used in stabilization checks (Con 1, Stabilize on 5 or less, Con 20, stabilize on 15 or less). I am thinking of replacing this with a Fort save (rather than the odd d% save). Why does the d20 system use a d% save for stabilization?

Will is already determined by Presense (cha renamed). Wisdom - dealing more with perception / enlightenment / common sense than with strength of personality / stubbornness - is ill suited for the Will save in my opinion. On the other hand, it is well suited for the Perception save and the Sanity save. (I divided the typical will save into the three aforementioned parts.) I also divided the Fort save into Fortitude (con) and Endurance (str).

Hmm, I suppose I can see the reasoning behind Wis determining Init, but if your reaction speed (dex) is not up to it, you will not be able to react to the danger in time no matter how swiftly you notice it. Perhaps create a feat (Req: Dex 13, Wis 13) that allows one to use the higher of the two abilities?

Danger Sense: You can sense when danger threatens. As such, your reactions at times seem preternaturally swift. It is not that your reactions are swift, but rather that they start before others are aware of the need to react. Requirements: Dex 13, Wis 13.

Benefit: When calculating your Reflex save you may use either your Dexterity modifier or your Wisdom modifier - whichever is higher.

Improved Danger Sense. Req: Dex 15+, Wis 15+. You may add your Wisdom modifier as an insight bonus when determing your Reflex save. The Wis modifier stacks with the normal Dex modifier.

The two above need some work, but perhaps you see my idea? I would not just replace Dex with Wis for Refl saves, but I would allow it with the use of a feat (or two), so place me with C in the above list.

 

[GreatLemur]

This actually reminds me of some (admittedly unreasonable) ideas I've been toying with. Wisdom and Charisma are both so poorly defined, these days, that I like the idea of replacing the two of them with Perception and Willpower. Willpower would take all of Charisma's skills, while Perception would get Wisdom's sensory skills, plus Search, leaving Heal and Profession to become Intelligence skills.

Willpower, of course, would contribute to will saves, while Perception would influence both reflex saves and initiative. I think Perception might also contribute to ranged attacks instead of Dexterity.

Dexterity, meanwhile, would take over melee attack bonuses (let's face it, Strength never made much sense here), and possibly some Strength skills, as well.

But I don't think I could ever hope to really balance this.