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7 months ago ::
Dec 02, 2012 - 1:56PM
#151
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I disagree with the statement that humanity is a learned trait. Especially if we're using it as a synonym of compassion.
More sex and gender equality and racial equality shouldn't even be an argument--it should simply be an assumption for any RPG that wants to stay relevant in the 21st century.
I could say anything in D&D is silly though, because it's a silly game and we are silly people.
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7 months ago ::
Dec 02, 2012 - 2:20PM
#152
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Date Joined:
Oct 26, 2004
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Elves don't have 300 years to study magic, elves are expected to be more self-sufficient, they don't specialize as readily as humans do. It takes them longer to reach mastery of any skill because they also have to keep up with 5-6 other things instead of focusing on a single task for an extended period.
Dwarves have the opposite issue they never look up long enough to realize they might need a new grindstone.
HUmans exist in sort of sweet spot compared to most of the other races. It's only the arbitrary nature of magic, and tolkein-esque writing conventions that keeps humanity from overrrunning everything in most fantasy worlds.
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7 months ago ::
Dec 03, 2012 - 2:16PM
#153
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...If you add in a simple line like +1 str, suddenly warriors see him as one of a few options. Dwarves for the str bonus and golems for the +1 con bonus. Thats your two choices, and anything else is generally a bad idea. Rogues might still like him, but really those + dex races are a better fit. Casters laugh and don't even give him a second chance.
I wonder how widespread this problem is? I've never had a problem making an enjoyable and effective character without taking the maximum possible ability score bonus to their class's primary attribute at 1st level. With an ability cap at 20 (apparently unaffected by race) all it means is that you will be a bit slower maxing out at 20 (if taking an ability to 20 is a goal for that particular player).
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7 months ago ::
Dec 03, 2012 - 2:45PM
#154
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Date Joined:
Oct 26, 2004
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Well traditionally the reason people pump their primary stats so exclusively is because they recieve more benefit for doing so. A fighter who does damage based on strength gets more benefit out of pumping strength than trying to up his charisma, especially if there's already a charisma focused player in the party (in which case a smart fighter bumps wisdom).
The simple fact is that since classes define the character, and classes favor specific scores, those scores will become the priority for characters of that class. Even if they aren't absolutely required to be pumped tthrough the stratosphere most people will anyway to improve their odds of hititng/setting a high DC.
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7 months ago ::
Dec 04, 2012 - 12:08PM
#155
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Well traditionally the reason people pump their primary stats so exclusively is because they recieve more benefit for doing so. A fighter who does damage based on strength gets more benefit out of pumping strength than trying to up his charisma, especially if there's already a charisma focused player in the party (in which case a smart fighter bumps wisdom).
The simple fact is that since classes define the character, and classes favor specific scores, those scores will become the priority for characters of that class. Even if they aren't absolutely required to be pumped tthrough the stratosphere most people will anyway to improve their odds of hititng/setting a high DC.
Of course. But in a system where anyone who wants to max an ability score can max their ability score, and being 1 point behind another member of the class can (and usually will) be equalized by mid-levels, does a +1 difference in that ability score provide enough incentive that a large majority of players will forgo considering any other benefits of the race with the lower starting ability score just for a +0.5 ability mod at the beginning of the game?
Is that single point of an ability score really carrying the lion's share of the decision for most players?
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7 months ago ::
Dec 04, 2012 - 12:14PM
#156
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Date Joined:
Aug 28, 2005
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Is that single point of an ability score really carrying the lion's share of the decision for most players?
Yes. Missing is not fun. It'll be less of a problem in Next if ability scores are capped at 20 for everybody anyway, but for any campaign that starts below when that cap could be reached, a single point in a primary ability score will continue to be a factor.
Why, yes, as a matter of fact I am the Unfailing Arbiter of All That Is Good Design (Even More So Than The Actual Developers) TMSpeaking of things that were badly designed, please check out this thread for my Minotaur fix. What have the critics said, you ask? "If any of my players ask to play a Minotaur, I'm definitely offering this as an alternative to the official version." - EmpactWB "If I ever feel like playing a Minotaur I'll know where to look!" - Undrave "WoTC if you are reading this - please take this guy's advice." - Ferol_Debtor_of_Torm "Really full of win. A minotaur that is actually attractive for more than just melee classes." - Cpt_Micha Also, check out my recent GENASI variant! If you've ever wished that your Fire Genasi could actually set stuff on fire, your Water Genasi could actually swim, or your Wind Genasi could at least glide, then look no further. Finally, check out my OPTIONS FOR EVERYONE article, an effort to give unique support to the races that WotC keeps forgetting about. Includes new racial feature options for the Changeling, Deva, Githzerai, Gnoll, Gnome, Goliath, Half-Orc, Kalashtar, Minotaur, Shadar-Kai, Thri-Kreen, Warforged and more!
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7 months ago ::
Dec 04, 2012 - 12:16PM
#157
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Date Joined:
Jun 17, 2010
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Is that single point of an ability score really carrying the lion's share of the decision for most players?
Yes. Missing is not fun. It'll be less of a problem in Next if ability scores are capped at 20 for everybody anyway, but for any campaign that starts below when that cap could be reached, a single point in a primary ability score will continue to be a factor.
A factor, but not a bad one, in my opinion. If a race is stronger than typical, then I see no reason why they shouldn't take less time getting to the cap than other races.
If you're saying that you don't think a race should be stronger than typical, I'd ask why.
D&D Next = D&D: Quantum Edition
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7 months ago ::
Dec 04, 2012 - 12:19PM
#158
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Date Joined:
Jan 15, 2009
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Elves don't have 300 years to study magic, elves are expected to be more self-sufficient, they don't specialize as readily as humans do. It takes them longer to reach mastery of any skill because they also have to keep up with 5-6 other things instead of focusing on a single task for an extended period.
Dwarves have the opposite issue they never look up long enough to realize they might need a new grindstone.
HUmans exist in sort of sweet spot compared to most of the other races. It's only the arbitrary nature of magic, and tolkein-esque writing conventions that keeps humanity from overrrunning everything in most fantasy worlds.
Humans in my world like the real world mostly beleive in reincarnation and the memories of past lives sometimes make them seem like sporadic and unreliable geniuses to elves...
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7 months ago ::
Dec 04, 2012 - 12:31PM
#159
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Date Joined:
Aug 28, 2005
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If you're saying that you don't think a race should be stronger than typical, I'd ask why.
No no, I'm not saying that at all. I think that it's perfectly logical and even desirable to have races that are stronger have a Strength bonus, races that are smarter have an Intelligence bonus, and so on. I'm just saying that, yes, those bonuses are a big deal to a lot of players.
Why, yes, as a matter of fact I am the Unfailing Arbiter of All That Is Good Design (Even More So Than The Actual Developers) TMSpeaking of things that were badly designed, please check out this thread for my Minotaur fix. What have the critics said, you ask? "If any of my players ask to play a Minotaur, I'm definitely offering this as an alternative to the official version." - EmpactWB "If I ever feel like playing a Minotaur I'll know where to look!" - Undrave "WoTC if you are reading this - please take this guy's advice." - Ferol_Debtor_of_Torm "Really full of win. A minotaur that is actually attractive for more than just melee classes." - Cpt_Micha Also, check out my recent GENASI variant! If you've ever wished that your Fire Genasi could actually set stuff on fire, your Water Genasi could actually swim, or your Wind Genasi could at least glide, then look no further. Finally, check out my OPTIONS FOR EVERYONE article, an effort to give unique support to the races that WotC keeps forgetting about. Includes new racial feature options for the Changeling, Deva, Githzerai, Gnoll, Gnome, Goliath, Half-Orc, Kalashtar, Minotaur, Shadar-Kai, Thri-Kreen, Warforged and more!
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7 months ago ::
Dec 04, 2012 - 12:45PM
#160
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Date Joined:
Jun 17, 2010
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Oh, agreed, they are a big deal. But only a little bit, for only a little while.
D&D Next = D&D: Quantum Edition
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