D&D General The joys of playing a PC with low stats

[TigerDude]

A fighter with 6 int could be fun, but back then we didn't have a choice on where to put the crap stat. My 6 Str Thief sucked.

 

[Distracted DM]

Absolutely. To that end, when I play (and I recommend to my players when I GM), I don't go into character creation assuming I know exactly who I'm going to play.

I tend to do the same, but most of my players, new and old, seem to want to go into DnD with builds prepped n' ready. I guess I understand, they look at all the options and get ideas and want to fulfill those ideas. But I can still be curmudgeoney about it!

 

[Deset Gled]

I've always thought that some natural physical stats should offset each other.

For example, if you have an 18 STR, you can only have a max of a 12 DEX and vice versa, so having a total of like 30 shared between STR and DEX.

While this may by fun, it's contradictory to a lot of real-world-simulation-type-logic. It's actually fairly rare for a human to be able to increase would be called DEX without increasing what would also be STR, or vice versa. Faster running, faster punching, and faster dodging are really all about growing different muscle groups. The extreme ends the spectrum like huge linebackers or lithe figure skaters are just that - extreme outliers.

Now, I do like the idea that different species could use something like this as an alternative to ASI. Orcs must have STR that is 2 higher than DEX. Dwarves cannot have a DEX higher than their CON. Gnomes must have an INT that is higher than their WIS. Humans must have their STR and DEX no more than 6 apart. That has a lot of potential to differentiate species while still allowing a wide range of options. But now we're also into ASI discussions.

 

[LordBP]

While this may by fun, it's contradictory to a lot of real-world-simulation-type-logic. It's actually fairly rare for a human to be able to increase would be called DEX without increasing what would also be STR, or vice versa. Faster running, faster punching, and faster dodging are really all about growing different muscle groups. The extreme ends the spectrum like huge linebackers or lithe figure skaters are just that - extreme outliers.

Now, I do like the idea that different species could use something like this as an alternative to ASI. Orcs must have STR that is 2 higher than DEX. Dwarves cannot have a DEX higher than their CON. Gnomes must have an INT that is higher than their WIS. Humans must have their STR and DEX no more than 6 apart. That has a lot of potential to differentiate species while still allowing a wide range of options. But now we're also into ASI discussions.

I don't disagree to a point and that's why I would have a combined maximum score for the two.

If you fix the stat 18 STR to the maximum human (Strongman or powerlifters), then you can look at them and say that they don't have an 18 DEX as you don't see them doing gymnastics and vice versa.