Ability scores have strong influences on the attributes characters have. Who you are depends a lot on what you can do, thus, class features that depend on certain ability scores being high tend to pigeonhole classes into certain traits and out of others.
The spellcasting classes are most afflicted by this, since their spellcasting abilities depend on one mental ability score that can’t be substituted (as Strength and Dexterity often can be), and that mental ability score influences the character’s personality more than the physical ability scores do; the personality that is usually far more emblematic of that character than their physical appearance.
As such, it’s a shame spellcasters are forced into making certain abilities high. It makes sense to have some obligation regarding abilities, but this can be much more flexible than it is currently. I suggest giving several spellcasting classes alternative spellcasting ability scores they can then choose between, ones that fit thematically. By this I mean imagine archetypes and what ability score would be most relevant for them. I will bold what I added.
Variable Spellcasting Ability Scores
Ability scores have strong influences on the attributes characters have. Who you are depends a lot on what you can do, thus, class features that depend on certain ability scores being high tend to pigeonhole classes into certain traits and out of others.
The spellcasting classes are most afflicted by this, since their spellcasting abilities depend on one mental ability score that can’t be substituted (as Strength and Dexterity often can be), and that mental ability score influences the character’s personality more than the physical ability scores do; the personality that is usually far more emblematic of that character than their physical appearance.
As such, it’s a shame spellcasters are forced into making certain abilities high. It makes sense to have some obligation regarding abilities, but this can be much more flexible than it is currently. I suggest giving several spellcasting classes alternative spellcasting ability scores they can then choose between, ones that fit thematically. By this I mean imagine archetypes and what ability score would be most relevant for them. I will bold what I added.
My Homebrew: [Spells]
My Forum Homebrew: [Combat Realism Update] [Variable Spellcasting Ability Scores]
My YouTube Channel: [Ambiguous Syntax]