Sor & Cha

[Phanboy]

Why exactly is the sorcerer's primary ability CHA? I think since sorcery is described as being inherrant abillity ala dragon blood (or in my campaign any magical creature(think really bad STD's passed down for generations some times latent and sometimes quite explosive!)) shouldn't it be more focused on Constitution? I mean Whent I think Con I think Fortitude and internal strength... now if you had magic coursing through your blood and coming out in the form of... say a fireball, wouldn't you count more on fortitude than charm?

 

[Sollir Furryfoot]

"Inner Strength" I suppose. Either that or strength of personality, almost saying will but that would fit under wisdom.

 

[whatisitgoodfor]

The way I've always explained it to players is that you're using your force of personality to bend the fabric of the universe to your will.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

I look at the "strength" aspect of wisdom and charisma as sperate things.

WISDOM - Willpower. In a postive sense high WIS is mental fortitude in a negative sense it is stubborness.

CHARISMA - Ego. In a positive sense high CHA is confidence, in a negative sense it is recklessness.

High WIS Low CHA - The ultimate self appointed "expert" who may or may not know about a topic but will refuse to concede his position.

High CHA Low WIS - A party boy/girl. You never know what this zany person will do next. But it will be big!

So how does this relate to magic? Sorcery is the ability to control reality around you. Wisdom has little to do with this as you are not resisting the forces of chaos, you are controling them. Intelligence has little to do with it, as it is an intutive process much like breathing (however, like breathing, advanced techniques can be aquired). Charisma helps a lot because your ability to control reality is a given, but your sense of self versus what you want to change is pure ego.

Lightning will flash from your hands not because you invoked the proper incantation, but because you command the lightning to flow and what is it compared to you?

 

[Axiomatic Unicorn]

It has been pointed out before that the mental and physical stats are symetrical.

Str is to body what Chr is to mind
Con is to body what Wis is to mind
Dex is to body what Int is to mind

To me CHR is perfect for Sorc

 

[CRGreathouse]

I don't agree with your symmetry, but I do think that Cha is perfect for sorcerers.

 

[Aaron L]

Axiomatic Unicorn hit it square on the head.

 

[Axiomatic Unicorn]

I don't agree with your symmetry, but I do think that Cha is perfect for sorcerers.

[Tongue Firmly in Cheek]

Now I must defend my wounded honor.



I see STR and CHR as ability to impose change on the world

I see Wis and Con as the ability to resist change from the world

I see Int and Dex as ability to respond to changes in the world and interact with the world as it changes

So there!!!!

[/Tongue Firmly in Cheek]

 

[Phanboy]

okay in that light I can agree... I must admit though I've never realized the symmetry before, but now it makes sense

 

[EOL]

Of course all of this misses the real reason of game balance. Without Sorcerers needing it (and by extension bards) Cha would be the weakest stat of all (moreso!)