deconstruction of od&d ability scores and their effects

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Surprise! You get some proper punctuation because I originally wrote this in a Word document.

In OD&D, 3d6-based effects are tied together under a particular ability score.

  • Maximum # of Hirelings and Hireling Loyalty Base as Charisma
  • System Shock Survival and Extra Hit Points per Hit Die as Constitution
  • Missile To-Hit Bonus and Initiative Bonus as Dexterity
  • Mage XP Bonus and Extra Languages Known as Intelligence
  • Fighter XP Bonus as Strength
  • Cleric XP Bonus as Wisdom

In each of the tables that follow, the most average scores [9, 12] are highlighted.

By wrapping up these 10 different effects into the 6 abilities, the Dungeons & Dragons game establishes character archetypes. Since most effects of ability scores only take place for those with scores outside of the middle ~50%, with the notable exception of system shock survival [1], the expectation is that characters will have 3 average abilities (with effects) and 3 abilities (with effects) significantly below or above average. This means that the categorization of effects by abilities, besides solidifying character concepts, also helps limit the extent to which randomization affects player experience. Perhaps it also relates to there being three classes, and so a player can get an even if asymmetrical mix of ability scores applicable for XP bonuses and/or more practical effects (e.g. initiative bonus).

Keep in mind that for XP bonuses:

  • Clerics can treat every 2 points of Intelligence past 8 as 1 point of Wisdom.
  • Clerics can treat every 3 points of Strength past 8 as 1 point of Wisdom.
  • Fighters can treat every 2 points of Intelligence past 8 as 1 point of Strength.
  • Fighters can treat every 3 points of Wisdom past 8 as 1 point of Strength.
  • Mages can treat every 2 points of Wisdom past 8 as 1 point of Intelligence.

The lack of a Strength-to-Wisdom 'conversion rate' for mages shows that players were more likely to play as either clerics or fighters, whose Strength/Wisdom conversion rate is the inverse of each other.









[1] This means that system shock survival was not only viewed as significant by the authors of the rules, but it was expected to significantly affect even (or especially) the average player.

Comments

  1. TimeshadowsAugust 1, 2021 at 6:40 PM

    Shall we make a character sheet with these detached characteristics in place of the abilities, and also write up a one-page for rolling the actual values rather than the 3d6 scores which won't mean anything in this deconstructed version?

    It could be a fun, 'what-if', experiment.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Marcia B.August 2, 2021 at 2:17 PM

      that would for sure be fun! would offer i think a different way of thinking about your characters :)

      Delete
  2. trollsmythAugust 2, 2021 at 8:29 PM

    You lost me when you wrote, "...the categorization of effects by abilities... also helps limit the extent to which randomization affects player experience." How so? I think there's something obvious I'm missing here.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Marcia B.August 3, 2021 at 11:19 AM

      it limits randomization since instead of there being ten random scores, each with one effect, the ten effects are wrapped into six categories. so only six numbers are generated, instead of ten, reducing the randomness of the effects in general.

      on the flipside, though, you could say that this makes each effect more subject to randomization since multiple effects are determined by the outcome of one score.

      Delete
    2. TimeshadowsAugust 3, 2021 at 1:21 PM

      I'm in favour of randomising all ten factors; complete deconstruction.

      Delete
    3. trollsmythAugust 3, 2021 at 7:07 PM

      Ah, ok, thanks! I wasn't quite making the leap there, but yeah, I see what you're saying. And then, yes, the groupings would dictate your role in the party; by focusing a single random result across multiple results means that you don't end up with a character who's really good at one thing, but not at the other things that would go with that role. And, looked at that way, it's easy to see how you could rearrange things to basically create what is, effectively, class from just your stats.

      Delete

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