D&D 5E When Are Ability Scores Used?

[Horwath]

Instances are so few that we might as well use only modifiers instead and ditch the scores.

 

[Maxperson]

Instances are so few that we might as well use only modifiers instead and ditch the scores.

Booooring. I much prefer 17(+3) to +3. Plus, my character is not made up of modifiers. He's made up of abilities that grant modifiers.

 

[Horwath]

Booooring. I much prefer 17(+3) to +3. Plus, my character is not made up of modifiers. He's made up of abilities that grant modifiers.

that is just habit talking as we are trained to think that because of decades of describing abilities that way.

having "10" as an human average is arbitrary.

same as having "0" as human average.

maybe we could have rolled for abilities 5d3-10 all these decades for -5 to +5 spread with average of "0".
Or 7d3D2-10 for adventurers/PCs

 

[Maxperson]

maybe we could have rolled for abilities 5d3-10 all these decades for -5 to +5 spread with average of "0".
Or 7d3D2-10 for adventurers/PCs

I can say that if that had been the case, there's a very high chance that I would never have started playing D&D.

 

[Horwath]

I can say that if that had been the case, there's a very high chance that I would never have started playing D&D.

possibly.

but if you didn't know any system before, and then you have:

1. 4d6D1, and then you must look up the table what that means mechanically for d20 rolls or

2. 7d3D1-10 and then it does what you get mechanically for d20 rolls.

 

[Baron Opal II]

I still use the scores themselves, but I'm a pretty heavy homebrewer.

Unseen servant has a specific Strength score.

 

[Voadam]

Unseen servant has a specific Strength score.

So do all monsters, but I don't think that it is relevant to identifying instances when the score itself is used.

 

[CleverNickName]

I don't know if it's a rule or not, but I've heard of using a creature's Dexterity score as a tiebreaker on Initiative rolls.

 

[Maxperson]

possibly.

but if you didn't know any system before, and then you have:

1. 4d6D1, and then you must look up the table what that means mechanically for d20 rolls or

2. 7d3D1-10 and then it does what you get mechanically for d20 rolls.

I really liked the range of stats D&D started with. I was able to see the range of human ability in them in a way that -5 to +5 just could never evoke. And don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that's the only range of stats that makes sense to me. I loved the old FASERIP Marvel stats that went from 2-100(5000 really). They set the ranges pretty well.

 

[DND_Reborn]

I loved the old FASERIP Marvel stats that went from 2-100(5000 really). They set the ranges pretty well.

Man, I LOVED that game!!!