What does a character look like from what we know so far?

[Szatany]

I believe you roll d20 +17 for Strength skills, with a further +2 for Swimming and Climbing as your are trained in them.

I don't think that you do. Remember that STR 17 means that you automatically succeed at STR checks with DC 17 or less. IMO STR 17 means that you roll 1d20+7 for skills.

 

[Morrus]

I could see things looking something like this.

Coupla things:
1) What do the abilities, other than those with adjustments attached to them, do? A 14 Con...doesn't have any mod?

2) I believe, and certainly hope, the a Background comes with more than 2 skills attached. Though 2 or starting with 2 is a nice way to keep things simpler.

3) Where is/what does their theme give them?

4) Where did Swimming and Climbing come from? Are those supposed to be "Fighter class" auto-skills? What other abilities/skills did the Fighter get...or choose?

5) Other than the +1 Str and the -1 Int, what are they getting (taking up space on the character sheet) for being a half-orc?

The short answer is that for most IOC that we don't know.

We know that being a fighter and being a half Orc both give you a +1 strength bonus.

We know that skill checks are simply ability checks (so swimming is a strength check).

We know themes give skill/feat packages but we can only guess what they might contain.

 

[Morrus]

No modifiers from ability scores? I'm getting that they are same as in 3e and 4e, but only thanks to the mace entry.

We don't know. Just guessing.

No abilities from the gladiator theme? We can make something up (like no penalty for improvised weapons or a bonus when using piecemeal armor).

I haven't a clue what the gladiator theme gives, do I haven't included anything.

 

[Morrus]

I believe you roll d20 +17 for Strength skills, with a further +2 for Swimming and Climbing as your are trained in them.

My guess is either d20+17 or d20+3; with a further +x for swimming and climbing as he's trained in them.

 

[steeldragons]

The short answer is that for most IOC that we don't know.

We know that being a fighter and being a half Orc both give you a +1 strength bonus.

We know that skill checks are simply ability checks (so swimming is a strength check).

We know themes give skill/feat packages but we can only guess what they might contain.

Gotcha.

 

[Scribble]

From the stuff they've said about skills I almost want to say they will be just a bonus to doing the action with the DM deciding what to add it to at the time... Though maybe not.

 

[Savage Wombat]

I remain concerned that the (18 STR = +4 to hit/+4 dmg) system of stat bonuses might be too strong for their desired math-flattening.

But my math-fu is not up to the challenge.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

I am just makeing this up, but go with me (cuase my made up numbers are as good as anyones)

lets take a 13 str is +1 to damage
14 is still +1 damage, but also +1 to hit
15 +1/+2 (hit/damage)
16 +2/+2
17 +2/+3
18 +3/+3
19 +3/+4
20 +4/+4

That makes it somewhat more like 2e and a little flater.

10/11/12 would be 0.

 

[kevtar]

My guess is either d20+17 or d20+3; with a further +x for swimming and climbing as he's trained in them.

I have very little knowledge concerning game design, but with the emphasis on ability scores driving skills, I'm wondering why 5e might not utilize the approach to skill/ability checks from 1e. For example, if a character with an 18 DEX had to make a Dex check in 1e, the player simply rolled a D20 and if the roll was 18 or less, the check was successful.

Is there a flaw with this type of check, or would it still be a potential option for checks in 5e?

 

[MortalPlague]

1st-Level NG (alignment) Half-Orc (race) Fighter (class) Noble (background) Gladiator (theme)

Now he (she?) needs a name. And a story.