D&D (2024) Sacred Cows: Ability Scores

[Yaarel]

Some of the other games I play have INT (intelligence) and Will, but have charisma as not being ability score at all.
Instead, it's an advantage which is a separately purchased ability (as is being attractive and such).

It's intriguing to see how many changes people support for D&D which are shades of game systems that people claim to have lesser interest in playing than something with "D&D" on the front of the book.

"Charisma" is both a venerable D&D-ism and a great word for emotional intelligence and social skills generally, as well as having a 4e tradition of including the Will save and earlier representing a willful personality.

Making D&D mechanics work better and more elegantly is an important ongoing tradition in D&D. As we look at 1e products, we can see its disparate ad-hoc mechanics evolving. The shift from 2e to 3e was largely to systematize the earlier mechanics, to streamline them for consolidation, elegance, and coherence.

4e surprised the player base. 5e tries to ask permission from the player base but still retains the gaming system insights from 4e.

The D&D tradition continues to evolve.

 

[Horwath]

What happens when you have -4 Strength.

as we are talking about modifiers then: 150 + 30*(-4) = 30lb carry capacity

 

[Lakesidefantasy]

Last time, I promise.

True 20.

It's the game we're talking about.

 

[Scribe]

Last time, I promise.

True 20.

It's the game we're talking about.

I just looked it up, (True20 - Wikipedia) and yeah that seems to be what some people are after.

No thank you.

 

[Lakesidefantasy]

Yeah, I was excited about it 15 years ago. But, you know, Dungeons and Dragons makes me happy.

 

[Uni-the-Unicorn!]

yes you could be.

But that can be explained by proficiency/expertise in Athletics or powerful build.

And the "constitution" or "resilience" part of Strength can be explained with proficiency in saves, advantage on poisons and/or disease and extra HPs beyond STR mod(dwarf or though feat).

Now you just need to delete charisma and let players decide how much or how little their character is charismatic and/or pretty or ugly or whatever.

Redefine Int, Wis and Cha into Willpower and Cunning.

Willpower manages all spell usage(attack, damage, DCs) and mental spell defence(current int, wis and cha saves).
And Cunning manages all skill usage currently used by Int, Wis and Cha.
More cunning means that you are better at all mental tasks, and proficiency and expertise describe your focused training(or mental preference) and specialized training.

I would rathe have both:
The six ability scores + 3 super scores: reflex, fortitude, will. The makeup of the super scores is class dependent maybe