#need assistance with ability scores!

25 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

woven lynx
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I’m unsure on what ability scores are needed most with a couple classes and I could really do with some assistance 😅

I’m very clueless and don’t really understand anything I’ve read 😫

worldly sparrow
woven lynx
worldly sparrow
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for druid and cleric their spellcasting ability is wisdom so i would focus that
for rogue i would go dexterity as the highest

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i usually judge the lowest stat by the type of character im running, like if the characters meant to be a bit dumb have intelligence be the lowest, or if the character is shy or awkward i would dump charisma
i try not to dump constitution unless i know my teammates can tank for me

mellow moss
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Generally you want at least 14 con on anyone
Then if you have medium armor (like druids and clerics) you need exactly 14 dex
If you have heavy armor (like certain cleric subclasses) you can dump dex but you either need 15 str or to be a dwarf

Then as Gray said for druid you want your Wisdom as high as you can, same for Cleric and Rogue you need Dexterity

rough jewel
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Dump con if you wanna die quick. Otherwise at least have 14 like Iji says

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Strength or Dex. Melee or Range (or Finesse). Max one out, dump the other.

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Int, Wis, or Cha. The three spellcasting stats. Pick it based on your casting stat

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If you don't have one, consider more con, then prioritize Wisdom just because Wisdom is very useful

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Or charisma if you want to give your character ✨ S O C I A L S K I L L S ✨

rough jewel
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Make a binary choice

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For instance, maybe your adventurer wants to be popular. Like a bard

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Why are they a Bard? Because they think being popular is good. It matters

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Because people just come and go, and eventually be forgotten

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But if you're famous, people love you; they remember you.

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So the conflict is: Is it better to be normal, or be popular?

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Then have two sides to each conflict: the positive and the negative

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Maybe have the negative of the normalcy be somebody who the character cares about but has been forgotten. Maybe they had a suicidal friend, or a washed-up parent who's just going through the motions

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Maybe have the positive side of normalcy be a friend, even a loved one, who wants them to just be happy and enjoy life with them. The life of chasing dreams takes time away from them and choosing to be with them comes in conflict with their goal of popularity

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Maybe the negative of the popularity is a mentor who pushes them too far. Or maybe they find themselves in toxic and bad company within the circles of prestige.

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Essentially, have characters that stand for the positives and negatives of this conflict's theme.

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I essentially just referenced Whiplash with this bard, you get the idea.

balmy sundial
# woven lynx I’m unsure on what ability scores are needed most with a couple classes and I co...

What are Ability Scores?

These numbers determine how good you are at tasks related to those scores. Each Ability Score has an Ability Score Modifier. To keep things simple, just remember this rule of thumb: Your ability score is "normal" at 10, and is subsequently a +0. For each two points in the ability score, the ability score modifier then goes up by 1.

Eg: If your strength score is 8, you have a -1 modifier. If your strength score is 10, you have a +0 modifier. If your strength score is 12, you have a +1 modifier, et cetera.

How do I use an Ability Score?

You add your ability score to any skill, weapon, or spell that calls on it. For example: Acrobatics is a dexterity skill. Anytime you roll Acrobatics, you will add your Dexterity Ability Modifier to that roll!

If you are proficient in Acrobatics, then you will also add your proficiency bonus to the roll.

Almost every roll you'll make adds your ability score modifier and, if proficient, your proficiency bonus.

You can think of almost every roll in D&D this way: a twenty-sided die + your ability score modifier + proficiency bonus if proficient. Once this makes sense to you, you're basically 90% of the way there. :)

What do each of the scores do?

The usefulness of an ability score depends on the class you're playing, but as a general rule of thumb...

  • Strength: Carry more stuff, escape grapples, increase your jump distance, et cetera.
  • Dexterity: Improve your initiative (how likely you are to go first), improve your armor class, dodge fire balls, et cetera.
  • Constitution: Hit points & improves your odds of preventing poisons from affecting you.
  • Wisdom: Improves your perceptiveness of the environment and helps resist some magical spells.
  • Intelligence: Helps with certain knowledge skills and helps resist some rare magical spells.
  • Charisma: Talk to people betterer™️, helps resist some magical spells.

Druid Scores

Druids are wisdom casters, and thus tend to benefit from having a high wisdom score. You'll want wisdom to be your highest ability score, followed by constitution and dexterity. What you choose after that is up to you.

Cleric Scores

Clerics are wisdom casters, and thus tend to benefit from having a high wisdom score. Your domain choice may unlock heavy armor for you, such as with a life or forge cleric. If you choose a cleric that wears heavy armor, then you will want wisdom and constitution. If you choose a cleric that wears light or medium armour, you will want wisdom, dexterity, and constitution.

Rogue Scores

Rogues are dexterity-based martials, and thus tend to benefit from having a high dexterity score. You'll want dexterity first and constitution second. After that, look at which skills you've decided to take, or put expertise into, and then prioritize your remaining ability scores based on those skills.

What if I make a bad character?

It's okay to make mistakes! This game is all about making mistakes. :) You'll learn. Worst case scenario, have a chat with the DM between sessions and ask if you can change your character should you realize you did something wrong.