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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Swarmkeeper" data-source="post: 8193186" data-attributes="member: 6921763">To say that one is "ignoring their character sheet" is not the same as one "interpreting ability scores" how they wish.  In 5e, which I believe you don't play that much, there is a whole array of personality traits, ideals, bonds, and flaws on the character sheet that players use to inform their roleplay - and are rewarded for it under the inspiration rules (not here to argue whether or not each table implements those rules or not).  Also, IME, players do use their scores to inform their roleplaying, but that is not mandated by the rules of 5e.  "Ignoring" the character sheet just doesn't happen at the games I run and play in.I guess I've generally been lucky in having players at our table who roleplay their characters in ways that are fun and cooperative - which includes leaning into their weaknesses, whether those are low scores or great flaws or both.  All I'm saying is that the 5e rules do not prescribe that the players roleplay to a restricted definition of what a 6 or an 8 or a 20 ability score represents.  And, most importantly, the 5e rules do not demand that the DM tell the players how to roleplay their characters.I suppose.  In session zero we make it clear that we're here to play a cooperative game, have fun, and create an exciting memorable story - as suggested in the 5e books.  Someone playing "super-duper-rule-exploit man" tends not to be attracted to our games perhaps because no one else is playing that way.  Again, not here to discuss jerk players (or DMs).  They can ruin any style of play.Others have pointed this out in the thread:  an 8 is exactly 5% worse than the "average" score of 10.  Please explain how you would differentiate roleplaying an 8 vs a 10 so it is always clear at the table.  And, why the DM needs to waste their energy on worrying if someone is going over the line (and maybe that line is somewhere else... someone roleplaying an 8 as a 12?  an 8 as a 14?)  Point being:  5e rules don't care therefore I as a DM have learned not to waste my energy on policing the roleplaying of stats - and our games end up with fine roleplaying all the same.  Maybe it has something to do with the players embracing the inspiration mechanic instead of trying for (what they believe are) greedy exploits of the rules.  Or simple adherence to the goals of the game.Players can have their PC put on any airs they want in 5e.  The STR 8 PC can claim they are an expert arm-wrestler but they are most likely going to get thrashed in the arm-wrestling contest when made to roll an "unproficient" (how is that not a word?  That should be a word!) STR check.  The WIS 8 PC can claim they are an expert doctor, but when other PCs or the sick magistrate die as a result of failed WIS(Medicine) checks, the farce is exposed.  In our games, there is a tangible difference between what the PCs think they know and what is actually true in the game world.  Just because someone roleplays a certain way, doesn't mean their ability scores suddenly are something else.  It's simply poor game strategy for the party to let the weak-statted PC be the one to take on an important task.  I mean, that could be fun, but there could be game world consequences for failure.  While the player determines, in 5e, what their PC does (or tries to do), thinks, and says, DM adjudication will expose the truth of how the world works and the players adapt their PC strategies accordingly.  If that adjudication includes the dice, the stats will bring the PCs' strengths and weaknesses to bear.  It appears you may be conflating the INT, WIS, CHA stats with roleplaying.  They might be rigidly tied together in editions or other games that you most often play but that is just not the case in 5e.</blockquote>

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