Re-working stat bonuses [Archive] - Wizards Community

Re-working stat bonuses [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Mirror, Mirror
11-01-04, 05:17 PM Stats give bonuses only on even levels. Therefore, if a character gets hit with 1 point of ability damage and has an odd stat, they are effectively uneffected. There is also a tendency to increase odd stats for the immediate bonus and ignore even stats. Therefore, I propose to split the bonuses granted so some come on odd levels, and others come on even:

Calculating generic stat bonuses and skill bonuses are always done on even levels.

Str: Odd- +1dmg; Even- +1att
Dex: Odd- +1ref, +1ranged att; Even- +1AC
Con: Odd- +1fort; Even- +1hp/lvl
Int: Odd- +1skills/lvl
Wis: Odd- +1will
Cha: ?

Additionally, in order to solve the problem with Cha, I propose to let either Wis or Cha contribute to your will save (choose at 1st level).

Does this disrupt the game too much? Is it too unbalancing? Does it ass unnecessary complication? Any feedback would be appreciated.
Ilium
11-01-04, 05:34 PM I think parceling out the bonuses to odd and even values is a neat idea. It is more complicated and I don't think I'd do it in my game for that reason, but I don't think it's inherently broken.

Swapping save modifiers could be a problem however. Makes Wisdom a real dump stat for classes like sorcerer. The Wisdom-powered classes (like cleric and paladin) usually want some charisma too (for turning and other abilities) while a sorcerer really doesn't care about his wisdom except for that all-important will save.
Mirror, Mirror
11-01-04, 05:40 PM I think parceling out the bonuses to odd and even values is a neat idea. It is more complicated and I don't think I'd do it in my game for that reason, but I don't think it's inherently broken.

Swapping save modifiers could be a problem however. Makes Wisdom a real dump stat for classes like sorcerer. The Wisdom-powered classes (like cleric and paladin) usually want some charisma too (for turning and other abilities) while a sorcerer really doesn't care about his wisdom except for that all-important will save.

Doesn't that just make Wis for sorcerers (and Bards?) what Cha is for almost everyone else: a dump stat?
Cymraegmorgan
11-01-04, 05:41 PM Though it seems balanced, I do think it adds an unnecessary complication.
Ilium
11-01-04, 08:04 PM Doesn't that just make Wis for sorcerers (and Bards?) what Cha is for almost everyone else: a dump stat?

It seems to me (though I could be persuaded otherwise) that the sorcerer and bard would be more extreme in this case. Most of the other classes have at least two stats that they really care about. These two classes could really focus on charisma to the exclusion of all else. Having a low wisdom would have no down-side other than lousy spot and listen checks (which can be a drag, I admit).

Maybe it's a non-issue. It just seems like changing the stat for a save would have major repercussions.
Degobah
11-01-04, 11:52 PM It is a pretty neat. With Int and Wis, maybe split them so that increase to caster save DCs comes from even numbers and the save bonus/skill points comes from odds (or vica versa). With Cha you can do the same with caster save DC/ NPC reaction adjustment.
I don't agree with using Cha for saves, though. Not unless someone finds another use for Wisdom.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Mirror, Mirror 11-01-04, 05:17 PM	Stats give bonuses only on even levels. Therefore, if a character gets hit with 1 point of ability damage and has an odd stat, they are effectively uneffected. There is also a tendency to increase odd stats for the immediate bonus and ignore even stats. Therefore, I propose to split the bonuses granted so some come on odd levels, and others come on even: Calculating generic stat bonuses and skill bonuses are always done on even levels. Str: Odd- +1dmg; Even- +1att Dex: Odd- +1ref, +1ranged att; Even- +1AC Con: Odd- +1fort; Even- +1hp/lvl Int: Odd- +1skills/lvl Wis: Odd- +1will Cha: ? Additionally, in order to solve the problem with Cha, I propose to let either Wis or Cha contribute to your will save (choose at 1st level). Does this disrupt the game too much? Is it too unbalancing? Does it ass unnecessary complication? Any feedback would be appreciated.
Ilium 11-01-04, 05:34 PM	I think parceling out the bonuses to odd and even values is a neat idea. It is more complicated and I don't think I'd do it in my game for that reason, but I don't think it's inherently broken. Swapping save modifiers could be a problem however. Makes Wisdom a real dump stat for classes like sorcerer. The Wisdom-powered classes (like cleric and paladin) usually want some charisma too (for turning and other abilities) while a sorcerer really doesn't care about his wisdom except for that all-important will save.
Mirror, Mirror 11-01-04, 05:40 PM	I think parceling out the bonuses to odd and even values is a neat idea. It is more complicated and I don't think I'd do it in my game for that reason, but I don't think it's inherently broken. Swapping save modifiers could be a problem however. Makes Wisdom a real dump stat for classes like sorcerer. The Wisdom-powered classes (like cleric and paladin) usually want some charisma too (for turning and other abilities) while a sorcerer really doesn't care about his wisdom except for that all-important will save. Doesn't that just make Wis for sorcerers (and Bards?) what Cha is for almost everyone else: a dump stat?
Cymraegmorgan 11-01-04, 05:41 PM	Though it seems balanced, I do think it adds an unnecessary complication.
Ilium 11-01-04, 08:04 PM	Doesn't that just make Wis for sorcerers (and Bards?) what Cha is for almost everyone else: a dump stat? It seems to me (though I could be persuaded otherwise) that the sorcerer and bard would be more extreme in this case. Most of the other classes have at least two stats that they really care about. These two classes could really focus on charisma to the exclusion of all else. Having a low wisdom would have no down-side other than lousy spot and listen checks (which can be a drag, I admit). Maybe it's a non-issue. It just seems like changing the stat for a save would have major repercussions.
Degobah 11-01-04, 11:52 PM	It is a pretty neat. With Int and Wis, maybe split them so that increase to caster save DCs comes from even numbers and the save bonus/skill points comes from odds (or vica versa). With Cha you can do the same with caster save DC/ NPC reaction adjustment. I don't agree with using Cha for saves, though. Not unless someone finds another use for Wisdom.