This may be a dumb question, but I've spent too long with this fundamental rule of D&D (OG of course) that, for example, a sorceror with intelligence 10 can only access cantrips, or with intelligence of 14, only 4th level spells, even when they reach 20th level. And yes, I fully understand the inconvenience of HORRIBLE SAVE DCs and SPELL ATTACK bonuses, especially at higher levels.
I'm asking because the 12-year-old newbie in my group of young teens left his sorceror's charisma at 11 (with the +1 racial bonus), and he's just new reaching the level where he can cast 2nd level spells, which by my OG rules forbids him from using spells higher than 1st level. I supppose one might argue that the slots are independent of ability score so spell slots would increase in level, but NOT the access to the spells higher than the sorceror's primary ability score.
I can't find the rule about this, and the "omission" in the rulebooks does NOT necessarily correlate to a rule. Please advise.
There is no such rule in 5e. Some support classes can get away with low spellcasting stats by focusing exclusively on utility and buff spells, which do not require saving throws, and thus suffer no penalties.
If you are the DM, I'd let the 12 year old newbie change the character. A sorcerer with charisma 11 might work for an experienced player with a concept in mind that was going to only focus on support spells that don't require a to hit roll or a saving throw. Unfortunately, that isn't generally a good description of a sorcerer.
As a result, I would guess your newbie had no clue what they were doing when they assigned an 11 to charisma and that isn't their fault at all since they are a newbie with no experience of the game and they are 12. I'd suggest that the DM should have given them a hand with creating the character but for whatever reason that didn't happen. So, I'd suggest the DM chat with the player, explain a bit about how the game works, make sure that the player really wants to play a sorcerer and adjust their stats to better fit the role they want to play.
Alternatively, figure out what they want to be good at and choose a class that might fit. For example, if they want high str - maybe a fighter or barb, high str and cha - maybe a paladin. If they like the idea of dexterity then maybe rogue, fighter. High wisdom - cleric druid. High dex and wis - ranger or monk. High charisma - bard, warlock, sorcerer. High int - wizard or artificer. Playing out lower stats can be fun for experienced players but does not usually provide a useful introduction to the game for newbies.
P.S. 5e has no minimum stat requirements to use class abilities of any sort including spells. The only restrictions are on muticlassing which requires a 13 in the primary stats of the class you are in AND any classes you want to multiclass to.
To echo others, they got rid of that old 1e rule. You don’t need that minimum any more. Honestly, his low score will be penalty enough. The way the math is balanced, he’s going to find his spells simply won’t be as effective. You might consider allowing the player to shift things around and boost their cha.
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This may be a dumb question, but I've spent too long with this fundamental rule of D&D (OG of course) that, for example, a sorceror with intelligence 10 can only access cantrips, or with intelligence of 14, only 4th level spells, even when they reach 20th level. And yes, I fully understand the inconvenience of HORRIBLE SAVE DCs and SPELL ATTACK bonuses, especially at higher levels.
I'm asking because the 12-year-old newbie in my group of young teens left his sorceror's charisma at 11 (with the +1 racial bonus), and he's just new reaching the level where he can cast 2nd level spells, which by my OG rules forbids him from using spells higher than 1st level. I supppose one might argue that the slots are independent of ability score so spell slots would increase in level, but NOT the access to the spells higher than the sorceror's primary ability score.
I can't find the rule about this, and the "omission" in the rulebooks does NOT necessarily correlate to a rule. Please advise.
Ish Kabibal
There is no such rule in 5e. Some support classes can get away with low spellcasting stats by focusing exclusively on utility and buff spells, which do not require saving throws, and thus suffer no penalties.
What level of spells you can cast are decided solely by class level in 5e.
The newbie should consider buffing CHA though just so their spells work better... Can't even multiclass without 13.
If you are the DM, I'd let the 12 year old newbie change the character. A sorcerer with charisma 11 might work for an experienced player with a concept in mind that was going to only focus on support spells that don't require a to hit roll or a saving throw. Unfortunately, that isn't generally a good description of a sorcerer.
As a result, I would guess your newbie had no clue what they were doing when they assigned an 11 to charisma and that isn't their fault at all since they are a newbie with no experience of the game and they are 12. I'd suggest that the DM should have given them a hand with creating the character but for whatever reason that didn't happen. So, I'd suggest the DM chat with the player, explain a bit about how the game works, make sure that the player really wants to play a sorcerer and adjust their stats to better fit the role they want to play.
Alternatively, figure out what they want to be good at and choose a class that might fit. For example, if they want high str - maybe a fighter or barb, high str and cha - maybe a paladin. If they like the idea of dexterity then maybe rogue, fighter. High wisdom - cleric druid. High dex and wis - ranger or monk. High charisma - bard, warlock, sorcerer. High int - wizard or artificer. Playing out lower stats can be fun for experienced players but does not usually provide a useful introduction to the game for newbies.
P.S. 5e has no minimum stat requirements to use class abilities of any sort including spells. The only restrictions are on muticlassing which requires a 13 in the primary stats of the class you are in AND any classes you want to multiclass to.
To echo others, they got rid of that old 1e rule. You don’t need that minimum any more.
Honestly, his low score will be penalty enough. The way the math is balanced, he’s going to find his spells simply won’t be as effective. You might consider allowing the player to shift things around and boost their cha.