I've been debating this with my friends for a long time and we still haven't reached a clear conclusion. So I’d really appreciate it if you could help clarify this for me so I can be sure. If my ability score is already 20, and I have a Manual that increases the maximum to 30, can I still take a feat that says 'increase your ability score by 1, to a maximum of 20' to go beyond 20?
No, you cannot. The feat states you can increase an ability score by 1 to a maximum of 20, meaning the highest number produced by that +1 to your ability score is 20. You cannot produce a number higher than 20. If you're at 20 or higher, adding 1 to that number is greater than 20 and thus exceeds the maximum highest number that feat can produce.
You said "use the feat," so I think you can still get the benefits of the feat which are unrelated to the ASI, but the ASI boost itself will do nothing.
I've been debating this with my friends for a long time and we still haven't reached a clear conclusion. So I’d really appreciate it if you could help clarify this for me so I can be sure. If my ability score is already 20, and I have a Manual that increases the maximum to 30, can I still take a feat that says 'increase your ability score by 1, to a maximum of 20' to go beyond 20?
I assume we are talking 2024? A Manual does not increase your maximum, 30 is actually the maximum. Whereas 20 is a softcap which things like general feats are limited by, as such general feats can not raise an ability score above 20. On the flip side Epic Boons are limited to a maximum of 30 and thus they would still increase the ability score above 20, so long as they do not exceed 30.
I've been debating this with my friends for a long time and we still haven't reached a clear conclusion. So I’d really appreciate it if you could help clarify this for me so I can be sure. If my ability score is already 20, and I have a Manual that increases the maximum to 30, can I still take a feat that says 'increase your ability score by 1, to a maximum of 20' to go beyond 20?
If a feat says it can't raise an ability score beyond 20, it can't raise an ability score beyond 20. Other feats you might have or items you might have used don't change that.
You can still take the feat and gain any other benefits it might provide.
Then I guess there's a bug in the character builder, because that's not AT ALL how it works there.
Once you reach level 19, the 20 cap is lifted as soon as you take an Epic Boon. If you had a 15 base stat and a +8 bonus that had been lowered down to +5 because of the 20 cap, that cap is lifted and you immediately get your +9 bonus if the boon you took increases that stat.
I think the 20 cap should be considered a general rule, and the 30 cap is a specific rule that supersedes it... Either that or the builder is bugged.
I wouldn't look at the builder as a source of truth, what is written general overrides what the builder presents.
100% this, the character builder on D&D Beyond errs on the side overly permissive rather than overly restrictive where possible, under the assumption people are using it with the rules, not instead of the rules.
I've been debating this with my friends for a long time and we still haven't reached a clear conclusion. So I’d really appreciate it if you could help clarify this for me so I can be sure.
If my ability score is already 20, and I have a Manual that increases the maximum to 30, can I still take a feat that says 'increase your ability score by 1, to a maximum of 20' to go beyond 20?
No, you cannot. The feat states you can increase an ability score by 1 to a maximum of 20, meaning the highest number produced by that +1 to your ability score is 20. You cannot produce a number higher than 20. If you're at 20 or higher, adding 1 to that number is greater than 20 and thus exceeds the maximum highest number that feat can produce.
Find my D&D Beyond articles here
You said "use the feat," so I think you can still get the benefits of the feat which are unrelated to the ASI, but the ASI boost itself will do nothing.
I assume we are talking 2024? A Manual does not increase your maximum, 30 is actually the maximum. Whereas 20 is a softcap which things like general feats are limited by, as such general feats can not raise an ability score above 20. On the flip side Epic Boons are limited to a maximum of 30 and thus they would still increase the ability score above 20, so long as they do not exceed 30.
If a feat says it can't raise an ability score beyond 20, it can't raise an ability score beyond 20. Other feats you might have or items you might have used don't change that.
You can still take the feat and gain any other benefits it might provide.
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Then I guess there's a bug in the character builder, because that's not AT ALL how it works there.
Once you reach level 19, the 20 cap is lifted as soon as you take an Epic Boon. If you had a 15 base stat and a +8 bonus that had been lowered down to +5 because of the 20 cap, that cap is lifted and you immediately get your +9 bonus if the boon you took increases that stat.
I think the 20 cap should be considered a general rule, and the 30 cap is a specific rule that supersedes it... Either that or the builder is bugged.
I wouldn't look at the builder as a source of truth, what is written general overrides what the builder presents.
100% this, the character builder on D&D Beyond errs on the side overly permissive rather than overly restrictive where possible, under the assumption people are using it with the rules, not instead of the rules.
Find my D&D Beyond articles here