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1 year ago ::
May 05, 2012 - 11:33PM
#21
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Of course, this only applies to PCs, who are unusual and rare examples of their species anyway, so it really doesn't matter. If you want the garden variety NPC goblin to be dumb as a brick full of bricks, go for it.
If you really believe it "doesn't matter", then I can assume you allow your players to just pick any two ability scores they like to get bonuses to when you DM, right?
All PCs are "unusual and rare examples of their species". But they should still be "examples of their species". If svirfneblin have exactly the same potential for exceptional strength as goliaths, and goblins have exactly the same potential for great "common sense, perception, self-discipline and empathy" as elves, then racial ability score bonuses are just arbitrary mechanical traits with no connection to fluff, and that's not a design direction I can support. I'd much rather see racial ability score bonuses dropped altogether.
EDIT: You know what? I'm going to shut up about this until I get to see the book, because there is a chance that these racial ability score bonuses are justified in the fluff in a way that makes some kind of sense. I doubt it, but I'm going to try and keep a somewhat open mind. Anyway, I suppose they're not any more stupid than giving revenants (who are stated to appear "distant and uncaring", with mask-like faces) a Cha bonus, or shadar-kai (for whom introspection can actually be fatal) a Wis bonus.
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1 year ago ::
May 06, 2012 - 1:47PM
#22
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Date Joined:
Mar 18, 2012
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Goblins are described as sneaky and cunning. Dexterity=sneaky, wisdom=cunning. In fact, I cannot think of two MORE appropriate bonusus to give goblins. I would argue that charisma is the less supported bonus, as goblins are rarely portrayed as gregarious or charming. Wisdom does not have to mean introspective or enlightened, otherwise wild animals would have very low scores. The svirfneblins' bonus to strength is harder to justify, but if you think about it, it's still not much of a stretch. Considering they live deep underground and spend most of their lives performing strenuous manual labor. One of their principle traits is how sullen and hard-working they are. So it follows they get similar physical bonuses as dwarves, who follow the same lifestyle. Yes, they are small, but in 4th edition that doesn't mean they have less strength. Given the same stat array, an elf and a halfling will have the same strength after racial modifiers. So if svirfneblin are significantly stronger than halflings, it is logical to give them a strength bonus, just as half-orcs get a strength bonus because they are significantly stronger than elves. It's fine if you have beef with the idea of strong small races, but that's an issue with 4th edition, not the race itself.
I love you guys.
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1 year ago ::
May 06, 2012 - 2:53PM
#23
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Date Joined:
Oct 19, 2008
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I like the idea that deep gnomes are strong as stone, almost the ant of the small races.
"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody." --Bill Cosby (1937- )Vanador: OK. You ripped a gateway to Hell, killed half the town, and raised the dead as feral zombies. We're going to kill you. But it can go two ways. We want you to run as fast as you possibly can toward the south of the town to draw the Zombies to you, and right before they catch you, I'll put an arrow through your head to end it instantly. If you don't agree to do this, we'll tie you this building and let the Zombies rip you apart slowly. Dimitry: God I love being Neutral. 4th edition is dead, long live 4th edition.Salla: opinionated, but commonly right. fun quotes
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quote author=56832398 post=519321747]Considering DnD is a game wouldn't all styles be gamist?
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1 year ago ::
May 06, 2012 - 5:32PM
#24
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Date Joined:
Nov 12, 2005
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Yeah, I'm definitely liking what I hear about the svirfneblin (even if I still don't like the name).
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