Ability scores can be divided into two groups, physical and mental. All stats have potential to be behind attacks and spells (except constitution) and all have skills associated (except constitution again) but the physical stats do something extra. Strength determines how much you can carry, Dexterity is first stat for rolling initiative and also things like unarmored movement, and Constitution means more hit points.
Would it break, make, or have no effect on the game if mental stats did things like this?
I am not talking about skill checks or a class feature like hexblade warlock using charisma on an attack role, I mean something distinct that modifier gives any class could benefit from like knowing an extra language or tool proficiency, using a weapon in a different way like half swording a long sword for piercing damage or bludgeoning with the cross guard or NPCs approaching the player who aren't hostile but maybe want to give a hint or direct them to a secret shop they have. Idk. Should all modifiers have that little extra something or is the 3 already present already enough and adding more would at best just bog the game down and at worst be way to broken.
Charisma is already one of the more powerful skill abilities (right up there with DEX). And Wisdom is all of your observation skills in particular is passive perception and insight which are the DCs to trick you. Intelligence could use a boost, I like the idea of giving extra languages, skill proficiencies, or tool proficiencies based on modifier.
The idea did originate from an XP to level 3 video I saw. They made points about upping effect of intelligence stat, not sure though if the last two should get a boost too or not. As well as what those things would mean.
The fact that mental scores offer nothing of any value to the character - and no, bonuses to skills don't count because outside Constitution (which is a useless vestigial stat that should be dropped altogether and its HP-boosting effect either folded into Strength or reworked completely), all stattributes offer bonuses to skills you want - is awful. Strength only has Athletics, but you only need to play in a game with no STR-focused characters once to know how critical Athletics is to a party somewhere. Dex has the absolutely crucial Stealth score and the enormously helpful Acrobatics, as well as Sleight of Hand and most tool use for things like rogues or artificers. On top of being your Initiative score. On top of being your AC. On top of being arguably the best save. On top of...
The fact that Wisdom controls your senses and Charisma controls your chattiness is not an excuse for the three mental scores being awful. Intelligence is 5e's universal dump stat - even classes that use it directly as a casting stat often try and find ways/builds that let them minimize Intelligence because people hate taking Intelligence so much. It ties Wisdom for largest collection of skills at 5, and yet people will dump Intelligence freely and without a care in the world because they say "Oh, the DM will just tell us whatever those skills would be worth anyways. You can't get a DM to shut up about their world, after all." It's moose piss, I hate it ferociously, and I would be all aboard with a total revamp of the core attribute system in D&D because it's old, obsolescent, and barely valid.
If you think Int is a dump stat, you are not creative with your use of knowledge skills, especially Arcana. Use Arcana to recall information about that Demonic presence to know is it resistant/immune to fire? How much health does it have? What are the best stats to attack it with, for instance, are they known for impressive wills, or being nimble?
Arcana/Nature/Religion, especially when paired with stealth so you can take time prepping before the fight, can give your party an immense advantage.
Do you want to disable a trap that is particularly complicated? Thieves tools based on Int.
Int is often overlooked because every class seems to need other stats more (Every caster needs con as a 2nd or 3rd stat, nearly every build needs dex as a 1st or 2nd stat other than heavy armor builds, and as there is only 2 int primary casters, and 2 casting subclass needing int, nearly all casters have to focus on wis or cha mainly, and with how important passive perception and insight are, yeah dex/con/wis are proritized far more), but Int is by far the one that gives the most direct advantage if put in the right hands.
And then there is investigation being literally the most important skill if your DM uses traps.
Int is a very strong stat that people underutilize. If you want to dungeon delve rogue well, dex/int/con is likely the best build available. if your party already has 2 peopel with 15+ passive perception, you should consider picking up arcana and putting those points you would have put in wis, instead into int.
Athletics and Survival are used often for random checks, but good lord you can break DM plans by recalling esoteric knowledge about the monsters that DM makes you face.
I don't think Int needs enticements, it doesn't need improvements. People need to understand it better.
As a DM I would also use Int as an ability check for people to recall things they don't remember well from past sessions (that in character happens more than a few weeks ago). If the Player cant remember it, its fair to make them roll to job their memory.
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Ability scores can be divided into two groups, physical and mental. All stats have potential to be behind attacks and spells (except constitution) and all have skills associated (except constitution again) but the physical stats do something extra. Strength determines how much you can carry, Dexterity is first stat for rolling initiative and also things like unarmored movement, and Constitution means more hit points.
Would it break, make, or have no effect on the game if mental stats did things like this?
I am not talking about skill checks or a class feature like hexblade warlock using charisma on an attack role, I mean something distinct that modifier gives any class could benefit from like knowing an extra language or tool proficiency, using a weapon in a different way like half swording a long sword for piercing damage or bludgeoning with the cross guard or NPCs approaching the player who aren't hostile but maybe want to give a hint or direct them to a secret shop they have. Idk. Should all modifiers have that little extra something or is the 3 already present already enough and adding more would at best just bog the game down and at worst be way to broken.
Charisma is already one of the more powerful skill abilities (right up there with DEX). And Wisdom is all of your observation skills in particular is passive perception and insight which are the DCs to trick you. Intelligence could use a boost, I like the idea of giving extra languages, skill proficiencies, or tool proficiencies based on modifier.
The idea did originate from an XP to level 3 video I saw. They made points about upping effect of intelligence stat, not sure though if the last two should get a boost too or not. As well as what those things would mean.
The fact that mental scores offer nothing of any value to the character - and no, bonuses to skills don't count because outside Constitution (which is a useless vestigial stat that should be dropped altogether and its HP-boosting effect either folded into Strength or reworked completely), all stattributes offer bonuses to skills you want - is awful. Strength only has Athletics, but you only need to play in a game with no STR-focused characters once to know how critical Athletics is to a party somewhere. Dex has the absolutely crucial Stealth score and the enormously helpful Acrobatics, as well as Sleight of Hand and most tool use for things like rogues or artificers. On top of being your Initiative score. On top of being your AC. On top of being arguably the best save. On top of...
The fact that Wisdom controls your senses and Charisma controls your chattiness is not an excuse for the three mental scores being awful. Intelligence is 5e's universal dump stat - even classes that use it directly as a casting stat often try and find ways/builds that let them minimize Intelligence because people hate taking Intelligence so much. It ties Wisdom for largest collection of skills at 5, and yet people will dump Intelligence freely and without a care in the world because they say "Oh, the DM will just tell us whatever those skills would be worth anyways. You can't get a DM to shut up about their world, after all." It's moose piss, I hate it ferociously, and I would be all aboard with a total revamp of the core attribute system in D&D because it's old, obsolescent, and barely valid.
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If you think Int is a dump stat, you are not creative with your use of knowledge skills, especially Arcana. Use Arcana to recall information about that Demonic presence to know is it resistant/immune to fire? How much health does it have? What are the best stats to attack it with, for instance, are they known for impressive wills, or being nimble?
Arcana/Nature/Religion, especially when paired with stealth so you can take time prepping before the fight, can give your party an immense advantage.
Do you want to disable a trap that is particularly complicated? Thieves tools based on Int.
Int is often overlooked because every class seems to need other stats more (Every caster needs con as a 2nd or 3rd stat, nearly every build needs dex as a 1st or 2nd stat other than heavy armor builds, and as there is only 2 int primary casters, and 2 casting subclass needing int, nearly all casters have to focus on wis or cha mainly, and with how important passive perception and insight are, yeah dex/con/wis are proritized far more), but Int is by far the one that gives the most direct advantage if put in the right hands.
And then there is investigation being literally the most important skill if your DM uses traps.
Int is a very strong stat that people underutilize. If you want to dungeon delve rogue well, dex/int/con is likely the best build available. if your party already has 2 peopel with 15+ passive perception, you should consider picking up arcana and putting those points you would have put in wis, instead into int.
Athletics and Survival are used often for random checks, but good lord you can break DM plans by recalling esoteric knowledge about the monsters that DM makes you face.
I don't think Int needs enticements, it doesn't need improvements. People need to understand it better.
As a DM I would also use Int as an ability check for people to recall things they don't remember well from past sessions (that in character happens more than a few weeks ago). If the Player cant remember it, its fair to make them roll to job their memory.