So Int does NOT add to skills

[Stalker0]

Looking at our wizard in the dnd experience, it can be noted that the wizard only has 4 trained skills, so that +5 int is not directly adding to trained skills. Nor does it seem to provide any bonuses to any of the skill.

So it begs the question, what the heck does int do in 4e?

 

[Campbell]

We know that Intelligence matters for the following skills

• History
• Religion (the Paladin had +4 in the skill with a -1 modifier)
• Arcana

 

[Peter LaCara]

Looking at our wizard in the dnd experience, it can be noted that the wizard only has 4 trained skills, so that +5 int is not directly adding to trained skills. Nor does it seem to provide any bonuses to any of the skill.

So it begs the question, what the heck does int do in 4e?

What? It clearly provides a bonus to Arcane, History, Religion (!), and Nature(!). Also the current theory is that you take the best of Str or Con for your Fort defense, the best of Dex or Int for Reflex, and the best of Wis or Cha for Will. Combined with clearly adding to hit and damage for most of the wizard's powers, I'd say that Int isn't hurting for things to do.

 

[Stalker0]

What? It clearly provides a bonus to Arcane, History, Religion (!), and Nature(!). Also the current theory is that you take the best of Str or Con for your Fort defense, the best of Dex or Int for Reflex, and the best of Wis or Cha for Will. Combined with clearly adding to hit and damage for most of the wizard's powers, I'd say that Int isn't hurting for things to do.

What I mean is using int for classes that don't rely on it. Of course a wizard is going to use it. But what benefit is there for a fighter to have a good int? To get a bonus to a few knowledges?

 

[hong]

What I mean is using int for classes that don't rely on it. Of course a wizard is going to use it. But what benefit is there for a fighter to have a good int? To get a bonus to a few knowledges?

Well, a good Int means having a good Reflex save.

 

[Peter LaCara]

What I mean is using int for classes that don't rely on it. Of course a wizard is going to use it. But what benefit is there for a fighter to have a good int? To get a bonus to a few knowledges?

What point is there for a wizard to have high strength? To do a couple extra points of damage with a dagger? I'm sure there are a few feats that key off of Int. Seems like reason enough to me.

 

[Peter LaCara]

Well, a good Int means having a good Reflex save.

Also true. You can finally afford to have low Dex as a fighter now as long as you're smart.

 

[Stalker0]

Also true. You can finally afford to have low Dex as a fighter now as long as you're smart.

Dex still affects ranged attacks and initiative.

I'm not screaming to the heavens saying that int is now the dump stat. But it does beg the question, does int have any standard characteristics for each class now?

 

[hong]

Dex still affects ranged attacks and initiative.

I'm not screaming to the heavens saying that int is now the dump stat. But it does beg the question, does int have any standard characteristics for each class now?

Well, yes. It adds to Reflex, if higher than Dex. It also adds to Int-based skill checks. How is this not a standard characteristic for each class?

 

[Stalker0]

Well, yes. It adds to Reflex, if higher than Dex. It also adds to Int-based skill checks. How is this not a standard characteristic for each class?

Basically if I'm a fighter in 3e that wants to be smart, it allows me to get more skillpoints. Granted, its not a great benefit, but its there.

In 4e, I can get a good int and get a nice reflex defense. Problem is dex provides me more benefit. Its much better to have a high dex than a high int. And this seems to apply to every class except the wizard (and perhaps the warlord if he's int based).

So while you could play a smart fighter in 4e and get away with it (ie your defense will still be good), it doesn't seem to give you anything that a dex based fighter wouldn't get (except a few bonuses to some int based skills, which could be absolutely awesome we just don't know yet).