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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Amrûnril" data-source="post: 8769122" data-attributes="member: 6841183">In D&D, most classes have traditionally been associated with specific ability scores. Fighters tend to have high Strength, Wizards high Intelligence, and so forth. In 5e, conforming to these associations is usually key to building a character who will be effective in combat. For most classes, this primary ability score is the only one that contributes significantly to offensive potential, while several of the non-primary scores have no combat effect unless you happen to be facing an enemy targeting the associated save.There is room for flexibility in some cases. Most Strength based classes can be effective with Dexterity and Finesse weapons, classes that use two ability scores can choose which to prioritize, and focusing on defense through Constitution or Dexterity is feasible in some combat roles. In general, though, prioritizing a class’s primary score more or less guarantees mechanical competence, while failing to do so can easily be a trap choice.Under these mechanics, a Fighter who prioritizes Wisdom, for instance, will be at a clear disadvantage compared to one who prioritizes strength. To me, this seems like a major limitation of the system. One can easily imagine a D&Desque story where a sword-wielding warrior has only average strength but thrives in combat thanks to their awareness of their surroundings and ability to predict their opponents’ attacks. The same is true for many class-ability combinations that wouldn’t be mechanically effective in 5e.A more flexible system would expand the potential for ability scores can act as an independent axis of character differentiation and customization. Just as a Halfling Rogue and an Elvish Rogue have distinct but similarly effective abilities, so too could a Dexterity-focused Rogue and an Intelligence-focused Rogue. Making this work would definitely be a challenge, but I think it would be a challenge well worth engaging with, given the degree of character diversity it could facilitate.What do you think of Class/Ability Score associations? Are they beneficial to the game, or would a more flexible system be preferable?</blockquote>

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