Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="TheCosmicKid" data-source="post: 6829125" data-attributes="member: 6683613">If Lefty is average-to-good at mental tasks in general, then give him average Intelligence.  That is the raison d'être of this whole "Intelligence score" mechanic.  If Lefty does not have average Intelligence, then in gameplay he will not be average-to-good at mental tasks in general.  Can Lofty perform [insert mental task here]?  Intelligence check.  -3 penalty.  This isn't tyrannical DMing; this is fundamentally how the ability score rules work.And it is simply not true that you cannot penalize Lefty's lore-based skill checks.  Of course you can.  You can opt not to make the rolls, or make them with disadvantage, on the basis that it wouldn't make sense for him to be able to do that.  If I make a character who's terrified of water and doesn't know how to swim, I don't give him a very low Strength score and model his average strength by buying up the other Strength-based skills.  I give him an average Strength score, because that's what Strength is there for, and then when the need for a swimming check arises, say "Sir Archibald the Dry doesn't know how to swim".To paraphrase the introduction to the PHB:  specific beats general.  You don't have to try and use the rules for general lack of ability to model a specific lack of ability.  It's not what they're there for, and it results in unintended and undesirable consequences.</blockquote>