Level Up (A5E) Why does a noble have a +1 STR

[Tonguez]

I think the written explanation is really what makes sense. If you're a noble, you live a cushy life where nothing can really threaten or hurt you. Why would you take up adventuring, where your life is constantly in danger? As a friend of mine says, no normal, sane person would take up adventuring, and that's an important part of your background when creating a character.

during the Medieval era there were hundreds (thousands?) of Mercenaries roaming around Europe, many leaders of Mercenary Companies were minor nobility.

The thing is a country can't afford to have its agricultural labour force go off and be soldiers all the time and thus it often makes more sense to hire adventuring mercenaries who you only have to pay for the current battle (be it against French Knights, Orc Raiders or Undead in the Temple ruins).

Sure being an adventurer isnt a sane choice, but it can be a lucrative one, and even in the 21st century there are people willing to give up cushy lifestyles to go off and do stuff in dangerous parts of the world.

 

[wizard71]

Nobles receiving a +1 strength makes complete sense. Most nobles during medieval times regardless of culture had to be warriors. All men were trained for combat

 

[noodohs]

Yeah but D&D isn't the real world and we don't have to follow the same logic

 

[Larnievc]

I thought this an odd choice, it doesn't really matter to me. For me I wouldn't have put a +1 STR, I will make it a +1 WIS, INT or CHA, but that is my style. I am just looking for some insight from others and their perspective.

One of my players asked about that. I told them you use it to shore up a weakness if they don’t want to be too strong.

 

[aco175]

Being a noble also meant that you should not go hungry and could afford extra chicken nugget growth hormone with your milk. This could easily be Constitution as well, but we need to choose one.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Yeah but D&D isn't the real world and we don't have to follow the same logic

But, whether we have to follow it or not, it is logic. If you don't like it, it's a pretty darn easy fix.

 

[Jfdlsjfd]

Floating ASIs?

 

[Scars Unseen]

Floating ASIs?

Logically, if an ASI weighs the same as a duck, then it's made of wood. Which means...?

 

[niklinna]

It's a fair cop.

 

[jeffh]

Nobles receiving a +1 strength makes complete sense. Most nobles during medieval times regardless of culture had to be warriors. All men were trained for combat

... and? It has been a good long time since WotC had a D&D setting that was even close to authentically medieval in print. In fact, I'm not sure WotC, as distinct from original-TSR, ever has. And Zeitgeist is certainly nothing of the sort. Most settings are much more urbanized, with remarkably little by way of feudal peasantry. Even the Realms, which started somewhat like that, has moved away from it hard over the ensuing decades.