D&D General B/X Vs Modern Ability Scores. ENworlds D&D Design Pt 1

Reynard · Mar 7, 2025

Shiroiken said:
I personally prefer the old bell curve modifiers to the modern linear method. Unfortunately it doesn't jell with player's desire for ASI, so unless you remove those from the game (not a terrible idea IMO), the 5E engine doesn't work so well with it.

If you aren't rolling stats, the bell curve modifiers make less sense.

Distracted DM · Mar 7, 2025

Zardnaar said:
Cap at 18 or use B/X?

Thought on it more; I said I'd use B/X if it were feasible, and I would.. but using online VTT character sheets it's not really feasible cuz you'd need to alter the entire system. SO the best possible (feasible) thing to do there is to max 18 the "mortal" cap instead of 20.

Zardnaar · Mar 7, 2025

Distracted DM said:
Thought on it more; I said I'd use B/X if it were feasible, and I would.. but using online VTT character sheets it's not really feasible cuz you'd need to alter the entire system. SO the best possible (feasible) thing to do there is to max 18 the "mortal" cap instead of 20.

Yeah other thought is screwing up ability modifiers on critters.

Cap at 18 vs 20 and a lower stat array perhaps

Baron Opal II · Tuesday at 6:35 PM

I appreciate the concept of attributes being "talent" and level or proficiency bonus being "skill". Eventually, as you gain levels, skill will eclipse talent. However, 5e has an assumption that bonuses from attributes will keep pace with the proficency bonus. If you limit the attribute bonus to +2, effectively, then I think you might want to redo the proficency bonus to something more than 1+((Level/4) round up).

Theory of Games · Tuesday at 6:42 PM

Horwath said:
personally, I gave up on ability scores.
I just use modifiers.
scores are just a relic, they are just in game to generate ability modifiers that you will use 99% of the time with desperate exception of few requirements that pretend that ability scores are still relevant.

removed racial/species bonuses:
starting array:
+4, +3, +2, +1, +0, -1
(high power campaign: +5, +4, +3, +2, +1, +0)
(low power campaign: +3, +2, +1, +1, +0, -1)

with new feats being all half feats its easy:
+1 or two feats without their ASI's

ability requirements:
13+ -> +1
15+ -> +2

carry capacity:
150lb +/- 30lp per modifier

also, I like the cap of +4 for PCs before any magic or high level class features/spells

Mutants & Masterminds 3e does this exact thing

D&D General B/X Vs Modern Ability Scores. ENworlds D&D Design Pt 1

Reynard

aka Ian Eller

Distracted DM

Distracted DM

Zardnaar

Legend

Baron Opal II

Hero

Theory of Games

Storied Gamist

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