Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="MrMyth" data-source="post: 5399390" data-attributes="member: 61155">Yes, actually, I've done just that in 4E. And honestly, the truth is that 4E actually makes the consequences small enough that one can get away with dropping stats to lower levels without feeling crippled by it. I've also played a Con 8 staff-wielding fighter in cloth armor, for a one-shot - and was able to make that a perfectly capable and effective character.  Since each defense draws from two ability scores, you can get away with, effectively, half your stats being low. Hitpoints no longer are so desperately tied to Con - a low Con means you have 4-6 less hp than most players, rather than 2-3 less hp per level.  Similarly, encumbrance simply isn't as brutal as it used to be, so a low Str score isn't the end of the world. Skills scale much more evenly, so even with a terrible stat, my skills based on it still can succeed if I roll high. And the presence of powers based on a variety of stats and feats like Melee Training means that I can have a low Str or Dex and can still make melee or ranged attacks if I really want to build a way to do so.  I can have my abysmally clumsy paladin with a Dex of 4, and do you know what I lose? Initiative. I'm a few points lower than I would be with a Dex of 8. But my AC in Plate is just fine. An average Int and a shield still keeps my Reflex from being completely terrible. And I was going to suck at Acrobatics and Stealth anyway.  You say it's hard to throw away something for nothing, right? But I'd say it is even harder to not take advantage of a free benefit. And if I'm already dumping my Charisma to 8, and I can drop it to 4 and gain +1 in my primary or secondary ability score? Yeah, I'm confident many players would make that trade in a heartbeat. I think such a system would see abuse by both powergamers and average players, and cause a lot more character problems than anything else.  If you want to be uncharismatic, then go for it. Having Charisma of 6 isn't going to mean you are somehow crippled or absolutely 'gimped' compared to Cha 8. Hence why, yes, it is perfectly easy to voluntarily take a lower score if you feel it would give you some RP opportunities. The truth is, having a already-bad stat be a few points worse has a pretty small impact on the game.</blockquote>

Verification