Why did the Delve give +1 to ability bonuses?

[Noumenon]

When I brought home my 4E pregens from Gen Con after doing the Delve, the first question my friend asked was "Why does an ability score of 10 get you +1?" In fact, all the ability modifiers were 1 higher than they're supposed to be -- +5 for an 18, etc. Why would that be? The Delve characters were 3rd level.

 

[Dog Moon]

When making ability checks, you take your ability modifier and add 1/2 your level.

So a 10th level character with 18 Strength gets +9 [+5 from 1/2 level, +4 Str mod] to their Strength roll when attempting to lift something heavy.

20th level characters would get +10 for half level and +4 from the 18 Strength for a total of +14 to the check.

 

[BarkingDeathSquirrel]

The Delve characters were 3rd level.

That's the reason why. It was probably written that way as short hand.

Ability Scores still provide the normal 3e bonus (18 = +4, etc), but Ability Checks/Untrained Skill Checks are Ability Mod + 1/2 level. So, a untrained Ability Check with a score of 10 is a made at +1 at 2nd/3rd level.

The 1/2 level isn't added for Damage or for other abilities that use an ability score Modifier (Scimitar Dance's miss damage, for instance), just checks.

 

[Noumenon]

OK, thanks.

I learned a lot from asking questions like that about the pregens. Like, why does it say he can use second wind as a minor action? Oh, he's a dwarf. (I think that was why.)

 

[Colmarr]

why does it say he can use second wind as a minor action? Oh, he's a dwarf. (I think that was why.)

Correct