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<blockquote data-quote="wingsandsword" data-source="post: 4931073" data-attributes="member: 14159">Realize, that in 3.x at least, ability scores in the 19 to 22 range were humanly possible by &quot;mere mortals&quot; (non-epic beings).&nbsp; The lifting/carrying tables for STR show that 22 and 23 STR would be equivalent to world-record level strength, and 20 or 21 would be world-class strength that would be a professional bodybuilder or Olympic athlete.&nbsp; The old 2e to 3e conversion book made each 18/XX category equivalent to 1 number above 18, so a 2e 18/22 STR would be converted to a 19.Also, with the 3e spellcasting system, you can cast spell levels equal to your casting stat minus 10, so you need a 19 INT for a Wizard to cast 9th level spells, and at least it makes sense to say that you have to be particularly bright to cast a Wish, while any average person could learn a cantrip or Magic Missile, and a mediocre mind could never cast mighty magic no matter how much training (i.e. levels).&nbsp; To have that without stat-boosting items, you'll have to raise your ability scores at some point.&nbsp; One thing I hated about 2e was being stuck with mediocre stats because you had a weak roll starting out.&nbsp; In 3.x, as long as you start with at least a 15, a primary spellcaster will never be unable to cast even without stat-boosting items or Wishes, but if you don't have that much you can still be a dabbler and take a few levels and not have problems.Why should a 1st level fighter be just as good if he has an 11 STR as an 18 and how strong he is should be &quot;flavor text&quot;?&nbsp; Why should a 1st level Wizard be just as good of a spellcaster if he has a 11 INT and is about to flunk out of Wizard school as an 18 and is a prodigy?&nbsp; He shouldn't, raw talent counts for a lot, and that's what the ability scores represent.&nbsp; Bonuses for ability scores are the &quot;talent&quot; part of a characters saves, attacks, skills ect, while their BAB and skill ranks ect. are the &quot;practice and training&quot; part of the equation.&nbsp; It's that way to make characters less cookie-cutter and more customizable, because that's a very good thing.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="wingsandsword, post: 4931073, member: 14159"] Realize, that in 3.x at least, ability scores in the 19 to 22 range were humanly possible by "mere mortals" (non-epic beings). The lifting/carrying tables for STR show that 22 and 23 STR would be equivalent to world-record level strength, and 20 or 21 would be world-class strength that would be a professional bodybuilder or Olympic athlete. The old 2e to 3e conversion book made each 18/XX category equivalent to 1 number above 18, so a 2e 18/22 STR would be converted to a 19. Also, with the 3e spellcasting system, you can cast spell levels equal to your casting stat minus 10, so you need a 19 INT for a Wizard to cast 9th level spells, and at least it makes sense to say that you have to be particularly bright to cast a Wish, while any average person could learn a cantrip or Magic Missile, and a mediocre mind could never cast mighty magic no matter how much training (i.e. levels). To have that without stat-boosting items, you'll have to raise your ability scores at some point. One thing I hated about 2e was being stuck with mediocre stats because you had a weak roll starting out. In 3.x, as long as you start with at least a 15, a primary spellcaster will never be unable to cast even without stat-boosting items or Wishes, but if you don't have that much you can still be a dabbler and take a few levels and not have problems. Why should a 1st level fighter be just as good if he has an 11 STR as an 18 and how strong he is should be "flavor text"? Why should a 1st level Wizard be just as good of a spellcaster if he has a 11 INT and is about to flunk out of Wizard school as an 18 and is a prodigy? He shouldn't, raw talent counts for a lot, and that's what the ability scores represent. Bonuses for ability scores are the "talent" part of a characters saves, attacks, skills ect, while their BAB and skill ranks ect. are the "practice and training" part of the equation. It's that way to make characters less cookie-cutter and more customizable, because that's a very good thing. [/QUOTE]

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