Speculation -- PHB races to get mental stats bonuses

[Thornir Alekeg]

1) I hope the idea of a "favored class" is eliminated entirely in 4e.

2) My assumption is that one mental stat is still going to be critical to a spellcasting class as it will be used to determine the attack bonus for a spell. My guess is we will still see Int for Wizards, Wis for Clerics be that stat.

3) I never understood the lack of a racial bonus to mental skills. How was it any less unbalancing than a Con bonus or penalty which could affect HP at each level?

 

[Exen Trik]

I have a little house rule that I haven't actually got around to implementing, but will next time we have to make characters. All races get a +2 to any chosen stat and -2 to any chosen stat, but with some restrictions. A Dwarf (normally +2 Con, -2 Cha) can put his +2 into any stat except Charisma and his -2 into any stat except Constitution. Keeps some of the flavor of the race but opens up to more race/class combos we might not see otherwise.

Yoink!

 

[FadedC]

The Living Greyhawk campaign eventually allowed grey elves as a race, which had elf stats with an additional +2 int and -2 strength. They were very popular casters, but far from the only thing people played. Having -2 con was pretty dangerous in a campaign with potential permanent characterr death, and -2 strength could also be a bit scary given the love of certain module designers of using shadows.