I was looking over the quickstart rules today and the question struck me: Why do we still have ability scores these days? Why not skip the ability score and go straight for the modifier?
I know why they originally existed back when there were nonweapon proficiencies and ability checks and PCs were limited to 18 or somtimes 19 in a score so you could roll a d20, equal or under, to succeed at something not covered in the rules and the ability score only gave you specific modifiers to a small range of applications.
But now we have skills, ability modifiers and difficulty classes, why do we need the score? Wouldn't it be easier, cut out the middle man, and just have 'Strength +4' rather than 'Strength 18/+4'?
At first, I thought that it could be to make generation easier with dice. Then I realized it's just as easy, if not easier, to, say, start with a value of -2 and roll a d6 to get your modifier, or 2d6 drop lowest. For point buy it's even easier to convert the system: Make the starting point 'plus zero', give them 8 points to increase their modifiers on a 1 for 1 basis, allow them to 'buy back' points from the base score.
Then I thought about ability point damage and wondered if it was going to remain in 4E or not, then considered that there might be better ways to do poison, or just apply lesser penalties to a character's modifier score.
About the only reasons I can see for keeping ability scores is a) Strength, for the calculation of max loads and such and b) It's a sacred cow. On the other hand, would DnD lose something of itself taking away the ability score?
Thoughts?
I know why they originally existed back when there were nonweapon proficiencies and ability checks and PCs were limited to 18 or somtimes 19 in a score so you could roll a d20, equal or under, to succeed at something not covered in the rules and the ability score only gave you specific modifiers to a small range of applications.
But now we have skills, ability modifiers and difficulty classes, why do we need the score? Wouldn't it be easier, cut out the middle man, and just have 'Strength +4' rather than 'Strength 18/+4'?
At first, I thought that it could be to make generation easier with dice. Then I realized it's just as easy, if not easier, to, say, start with a value of -2 and roll a d6 to get your modifier, or 2d6 drop lowest. For point buy it's even easier to convert the system: Make the starting point 'plus zero', give them 8 points to increase their modifiers on a 1 for 1 basis, allow them to 'buy back' points from the base score.
Then I thought about ability point damage and wondered if it was going to remain in 4E or not, then considered that there might be better ways to do poison, or just apply lesser penalties to a character's modifier score.
About the only reasons I can see for keeping ability scores is a) Strength, for the calculation of max loads and such and b) It's a sacred cow. On the other hand, would DnD lose something of itself taking away the ability score?
Thoughts?
.
