Strength.. Is it really the best statistic?

[Desdichado]

I definitely agree about Dwarves.

Although oddly enough, nobody in my group seems to really play them very much. Maybe they're just also not very interesting, so they had to be made more powerful to make up for it? Like the cleric?

Although we do have a human PC who's obsessed with dwarvish culture and likes to claim to be a dwarf. The fact that he looks a bit like Ichabod Crane (Disney animated version, narrated by Bing Crosby) with a pathetic, weak little beard only makes it that much better.

 

[EricNoah]

Couple of things I've noticed...

1) Players can often rely on their *own* Int, Wis, and even Cha to accomplish roleplaying and info-gathering tasks, but they almost always have to rely on their characters' physical stats to overcome physical challenges.

2) Many DMs are great at coming up with physical challenges, and indeed much of the game revolves around it. The mental or roleplaying challenges, however, are often harder to design, harder to run, harder to truly make challenging.

 

[ThirdWizard]

I'm of the oppinion that Half-orcs didn't get -2 Int/Cha to balance out a Str bonus. They got it because the designers didn't want Half-orc wizards or sorcerers.

Different stats for different situations, depending on gameplay style. And, there's the oft noted if Str was better than other stats, items that boosted it would cost more and Bull's Strength would be one level higher.

Personally, I like Con. Which is another bonus for dwarves. When I get to play again, I'm going Dwarf Paladin!

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

One thing I've noticed is that the Strength-based skills never seem to come into play in the games I've played and GMed. Spells seem to render them completely useless by about character level 5, whereas Concentration, Spot, Listen, the Knowledges, Search, Tumble, Diplomacy, etc. all continue to see use.

I've seen a few (usually easy) Climbs, characters who did a lot of Jumping, but only with huge racial bonuses (thri-kreen), and... that's about it.

 

[fusangite]

Without question, Constitution is the best stat.

For Barbarians, Constitution not only increases the capacity of the cast to fulfill its main purpose (damage sponge); it also increases the duration of raging.

For Bards, Clerics, Druids, Wizards and Sorcerors, Constitution increases the capacity to do combat casting; at low levels the size of the Con bonus to Concentration makes a considerable difference when it comes to the viability of casting in a melee situation. For a 5th level wizard, the difference between a Con of 10 and a Con of 16 is successfully combat casting (with the feat) 3rd level spells 70% of the time and 85% of the time.

For Rogues, Bards, Wizards and Sorcerors, high Constitution is absolutely crucial for basic survival. Remember that for D4 hit die classes, a Con of 16 will provide over 50% of the class's total hit points after first level. Similarly, for D6 hit die classes, a Con of 16 will provide 46% of all hit points gained after first level. For a 7th level Wizard, the difference between a Con of 10 and 16 is 19 hit points versus 40 hit points.

In addition to all this, Constitution is the main attribute for all Fortitude saves.

 

[smilinggm]

No matter What Class I play I usually assign the highest scores to
INT, WIS, & CHA. The reason for this is that a High INT grants my PC's more Skill Points, and 70% the skills are based on int, wis or cha.
Including some of the most important and probably most used skills:
Spot, Search, Listen & Sense Motive.
Str and Dex are the easiest Stats to buff by magic.
I am not doubting the imprtance of the Physical stats but D&D demands balance. I have seen many characters who used int wis and Esp cha as dump stats perform very poorly in even pure hack n slash Dungeon crawls because they could not make spot or listen checks to save their PC's life.

 

[Bryon_Soulweaver]

INT and CHA are my favorite. Why use brute force when you can make a plan to trap a person or group, and have people, like a drow with influensual power, help you make that decision to put a hurt to those/that people. INT for planning and spells, CHA for fame or infamy to other around. If your liked by others, wont some of them help ?

 

[iksander]

Well in a stat vacuum id agree with Moogle, but if you've got a party, stat importance becomes different depending on character class.

The fighter or barbarian with the crappy will saving throw can ask the cleric/wizard for a Protection from evil and render a school of magic impotent. The fighter can then happily max his damage dealing capabilities.

Granted You cant always have POE up but if ya got a smart party, that does a little digging into what their getting into before going gallavanting off, POE will be up in those important moments. And will cost the opponent a dispel magic, before the dominate.

Although I would have to agree with crothian, a few feats giving str bennies would be a nice addition. There are a billion and a half fighter feats for the dex monkies, but the str based fighter is told to suck it up and stick with that power attack tree. (excludin the new stuff from CV)

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

I believe most stats are roughly equal, with Charisma being slightly less powerful except for certain classes.

Strength is melee and carrying capacity. Dexterity is AC, Reflex save, ranged, possibly melee, and some of the best skills in the game. Constitution is your HP and Fortitude save. (Doubly important in my games, which tend to make Dex and Con vital.) Intelligence governs your skill points-- and every class needs skills. It's also the ability score for some of the most important skills. Wisdom is your Will save and your ability to react to threats-- anyone who's taken a full attack worth of sneaks knows how important Wisdom is.

Charisma is less important for most characters, though vital for the party's spokesman, and it can turn a Cleric or Paladin into a monster. It's also of course vital for Bards and Sorcerors.

I really think that the entire idea that Strength is more important than any other stat is based on flawed logic.

 

[Mark]

I really think that the entire idea that Strength is more important than any other stat is based on flawed logic.

Not that I have an opinion either way, but where is the perceived flawed logic?