D&D (2024) Sacred Cows: Ability Scores

[Maxperson]

When we get a new editions, should we dispense with ability scores and just have bonuses listed instead?
A starting stat block might instead give a +3, a +2, Two +1s, a non bonus, and a -1 for example.
Besides tradition, the only reason for ability scores that are translated into bonuses is "granularity", in which one can have odd numbered scores that don't increase the bonus, acting as a stopgap between actual mechanical increases or penalties.

Thoughts?

There are uses for granularity. For example, I use dex score to determine tie breakers. If you and an enemy both roll an initiative of 18, but you have a dex of 15 and he has a dex of 14, you go first.

 

[the Jester]

Then so be it.

That's pretty terrible business advice.

 

[Maxperson]

Try to speak portuguese then. This language makes less sense than still using ability scores!

It's fun when you are trying to learn english. Pull in portugues is "Puxe" and Push is "Empurre". Push and "Puxe" sound EXACTLY the same! So you can guess my confusion hahaha

The doors to get into and out of businesses must give you nightmares.

 

[the Jester]

Getting rid of a detail that doesn't really justify its existence.

Sometimes I wish making TTRPGs was like actually producing marvels of engineering.

It seems like a solution in search of a problem. All you're doing is removing granularity, familiarity, and tradition- you're not fixing anything that's broken, at least that I can see.

 

[Twiggly the Gnome]

Roll six d4s and six fate dice. For each blank side rolled, drop a roll to zero, largest number first. Assign the rolled pluses and minuses to the remaining numbers. Arrange to taste.

 

[the Jester]

I still like to see ability scores as a resource. They are used that way in some obscure situations (intellect devoured attacks for instance) though I would like to see them used that way again.

Particularly poisons. I thought 3e’s poison and disease system was very elegant at representing all sorts of damage to the body that was far more interesting than simply reducing hp. I have several homebrew poisons in by file ready to spring on the players.

Oh man, I loved ability damage until I realized how bad players tend to be at massive amounts of on-the-fly recalculation. And God save you from the tedium of refiguring a fully buffed high level party's numbers after an 0area-targeting greater dispel magic or two...

 

[CubicsRube]

Since rolling stats is still a thing, I'm all for keeping them. Granted, rolling stats and assigning a modifier could be done via a table in the rulebook and no raw stat need appear on the character sheet.

This is what is done in Mork Borg and a number of new OSR products.

 

[Uni-the-Unicorn!]

When we get a new editions, should we dispense with ability scores and just have bonuses listed instead?
A starting stat block might instead give a +3, a +2, Two +1s, a non bonus, and a -1 for example.
Besides tradition, the only reason for ability scores that are translated into bonuses is "granularity", in which one can have odd numbered scores that don't increase the bonus, acting as a stopgap between actual mechanical increases or penalties.

Thoughts?

Pathfinder 2 does that and I hate it. I thought it wouldn’t bother me, but it really did.

 

[Uni-the-Unicorn!]

Yeah, 6e should be a 'rip off the bandage' edition.

Remove everything that they keep messing around with half measures on, and let the chips fall where they may.

No, I much prefer the half measures.

 

[Yaarel]

When there are four abilities (Str, Dex, Int, Cha), the starting array is a choice:

+3, +2, +1, +0

+2, +2, +2, +2