The Con Stat and Dragonborn

[Final Attack]

Now that ability scores have less flow on effects only a few stand out as being important (not in all cases, just more often than others).

STR - fighter, paladin, warlord, backstabber rogue, TWF ranger

Now CON works well with warlocks, but it feels a waste for any of the above classes to take. They have other stats to worry about.

1. add to HP and in effect add to healing surge strength (same result - spend a feat)
2. add more healing surges (same result - spend a feat)
3. bonus for dragonborn

Is this good enough to give up defensive strength, or even often useful secondary stats?

I guess the biggest difficulty is seeing how the dragonborn bonus to healing surges can be used without too much wasted. Personally I'd rather spend a feat buffing HP than using up precious ability score points.

 

[FrozenChrono]

Con is only a prime stat for the warlock, however it's a secondary stat for

Paladins (hammers and lay on hands ammo)
Fighters (certain weapons)
Wizards (staff users, but it's way better than str for the extra hp and surges)

It's also useful for any class that doesn't choose to go str, Dodger rogues, ranged Rangers, lazer clerics.

Very few classes are going to go 20 con and pump it every time, but many will take it as a 14ish secondary and pump it every time.

Also con stacks with feats, so you're better off with the con and the feat, than just the feat.

So yea, Con is worth it. Just not as a prime stat most of the time, there will be more classes to come though, and I wouldn't be suprised if there were a few more con based classes.

 

[Mr. Teapot]

there will be more classes to come though, and I wouldn't be suprised if there were a few more con based classes.

Both the non-PHB classes that we've seen hard rules for have Con as one of their important stats. Or can use Con as an important stat, anyway. Artificers use Con to determine the secondary effects of their spells (like warlocks use Int), and Shielding Swordmages reduce enemy damage by an amount based on their Con (and a couple powers are boosted by Con, too).

 

[DracoSuave]

If your character is based around range rather than melee, then Con is better than Str hands down. It all depends if you ever plan on making melee basic attacks or not.

 

[Victim]

If your character is based around range rather than melee, then Con is better than Str hands down. It all depends if you ever plan on making melee basic attacks or not.

Sort of. A ranged cleric can use a shield, so sufficient STR for shield proficiency can be handy.

 

[Saeviomagy]

If your character is based around range rather than melee, then Con is better than Str hands down. It all depends if you ever plan on making melee basic attacks or not.

The top damage builds rely on hammer rhythm for much of their damage. That's directly influenced by con (ie - you score con damage on a miss). Con is far from a useless stat in melee.

 

[Old Gumphrey]

So yea, Con is worth it. Just not as a prime stat most of the time, there will be more classes to come though, and I wouldn't be suprised if there were a few more con based classes.

I have a strange feeling that the barbarian is going to want F-tons of Con.

 

[DracoSuave]

The top damage builds rely on hammer rhythm for much of their damage. That's directly influenced by con (ie - you score con damage on a miss). Con is far from a useless stat in melee.

I didn't make any claims regarding Con and melee.

I was speaking of ranged attackers.

My point was, if you planned on never making Melee Attacks, then Strength is a dump stat for you, and Con is not.

If you do, then things are a different story, and much more complicated.

 

[Mengu]

Con is rather important for a greatweapon fighter. It helps with hammers and axes. They get hit a lot more, so they need the extra HP's and healing surges, not to mention powers like Boundless Endurance and Unbreakable. It will allow them to grab Plate Armor for the extra bit of AC, and later specialization. It also qualifies them for Potent Challenge. High Con is down right mandatory for a Dragonborn Greatweapon Fighter. Toughness and Durable will help on top of their good Con.

Paladins are pretty MAD to begin with, so high Con is kind of a luxury. They are probably better off with focusing on Wisdom and their attack stat, and picking up the feats.

For a Warlord Con can be important, because they tend to be up front all the time, and don't have anywhere near the HP's or healing surges of the defenders. They also don't have the armor proficiencies, which if they want to get them, they'll need good Con.

So at least two of the three favored classes of Dragonborns can benefit from a high or moderate Con.

 

[Stalker0]

I don't think that being a dragonborn will make you want to go 20 con...unless your a warlock.

However, it might make you want to bump that 12 con to a 14, or a 13 and put a point in it later.

And even if you don't, +1 to your healing surges is not a bad bonus, every bit of healing helps.

The racial bonus makes dragonborn decent warlocks (either high cha, or extra benefit from that high con) and gives a decent bonus to other fighter types that are at least going to have a midway con.