I'm interested to know the DMs opinions of what can be "done" with what sort of ability score. It's a time-honored tradition between players to debate what could be done with a particular number, but for all it's worth, it usually doesn't matter. PCs usually aren't subject to react to other PC's ability scores outside of pure mechanics. It usually only comes up in DM events. I know I have often been surprised by how little(and at times how much) I could do with a certain roll or score in a DM event. But I'm usually more surprised in the difference from DM to DM or situation to situation. In some stories my PC could bash down a brick wall in a matter of seconds. In others he barely managed to crack the bark on a (mundane)tree with a full force swing and a wonderforged weapon.

Now I understand there is always the issue of context. There is always the issue of plot and story. No DM is beholden to let the 44 STR Ogrillon literally push down every wall and obstacle between him and his goal. The same for any uber-high stat. But it would help to have some idea, even if it's a general one, of what can be expected with what score. I offer this template, in case any DM wants to take a stab at it. You of course can do just one ability or all six if you care to take the time.



Example:

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I'm not putting this to writing because it's 30000000000000000% context dependant.



Correct!



Ask your DM at the time. they will know.

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Davion Telemos - Monk of the Four Winds
Korthan Isharnos - Dragon Shaman of Thunder Spirit Zamasham

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Success is a stale finale.

No one would be holding you to some sort of writing. This could be open to anyone's opinions, but like I said, DMs are were it counts for this. I'm not--and I think it's a little silly to think anyone is--looking to point back to this and yell "But you said if I had 20 STR I could lift Tempus' jockstrap!".

I'm really not asking for the sake of your or anyone's event, I'm asking for my own sake and to understand my own characters in respect to the world around them.



Neat. I haven't seen this before.

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Yes they would. The second it gets put into writing it becomes something people will point at and say must be adhered to, because it's written there, and what';s the point of writing it if you don't use it? And they'd be right.

And I don't want to chain myself to that.

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Davion Telemos - Monk of the Four Winds
Korthan Isharnos - Dragon Shaman of Thunder Spirit Zamasham

Why did you eliminate 23-25 in your ability chart? Is there something between natural and modified that just isn't good enough?

Kidding aside, I agree that it's situational, and in times where a DM isn't needed, just use common sense. Stats are there because it's a game we play that tries to mimic life, to a degree of fun, without going overboard with nitpicking. Role-play your stats to the best of your ability, and just 'roll' with it, when asked by a DM.

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That seems awful fucking cynical of the playerbase. You guys write "unofficial opinions" literally all the time, and no one has any problem understanding that what you say may not speak for all or even most situations. It'd be nice to be given some credit. But hey, it's your call. Still interested if any other DM wanted to give it a shot, but with a decree like that, somehow I doubt it now. Oh well, I thought it would be fun and interesting.



The adage of "common sense isn't common" is thrown around here so much it might as well be our motto. The whole point is, no one really has any idea what their PC is capable of, without a DM there half of the time. One can say you're strong enough to lift a horse, another will say you fail to pick up a cinder block. And while that's a bit stupid, it's fine, I wasn't expecting all DMs to have the same rubric of viewpoint, but I figured we could all gain some insight from seeing some sort of generalization at one or two notches from a couple.

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Let me put it another way, and it can be panned or taken as whatever: If we want people to "RP their stats," it probably helps to give them a general idea of what could be expected from those stats.

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I mean of all ability scores to call out, strength is the one with the most thorough explanation simply within the game rules. Go look at the ability score chart on the d20 are about strength and it will tell you quite a bit.

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Davion Telemos - Monk of the Four Winds
Korthan Isharnos - Dragon Shaman of Thunder Spirit Zamasham

I find that for the most part you have quite a bit of leeway in how you want to portray it. I find it also varies from character to Character on how I portray a character's abilities scores and what I see them being able to do. For Example... two characters with roughly similiar Dex Scores..

Niss'assa, Drow Rogue, Epic Dodger for the sake of this thread, natural dex 26. I viewed his dex as being very gymnastic in nature, making him very flexible and able to do feats of agility which would make the common man go "Eh?" So things like extra low limbos, matrix time dodges, effortless cartwheels, and just being able to move around in ways which others would not be expected to do so. Being an archer, he is also a very good shot, which works into his dexterity as hand eye coordination and the ability to judge distance. So think, Olympic level gymnast and archer or beyond - that's the sort of thing I expect him to be able to do.

Whurak, Dwarf, Epic Dodger and for the sake of this thread, natural dex 26. Now... mechanically his dex is exactly the same as the Drow's. And whilst yes... he is flexible for a dwarf by virtue of his dexterity, he is not gymnast. I think that much of his dexterity is hand-eye coordination, manual dexterity, and economy of motion. So whilst Niss may Matrix dodge an arrow as part of his epic dodge, Whurak's is much more a case of "He moved to the side just enough for it to miss" and I RP more of his skill with traps and the mechanisms involved than I did Niss.

So I guess... I see the natural 26 Stat guys as being the pinnacle of human excellence in their chosen field. Impressive, but not Godlike. So Niss with his 26 Dex and 30 tumble, is an olympic level Gymnast. A Fighter with 26 strength would be an Olympic level Weight lifter and swordsman. Each of them is quite broad, which makes it difficult to fill out such tables with any accuracy. That is a pretty good guide however that Touched posted.

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Player of:
- Whurak Thunderhammer
King of Barak Runedar and all round Vengeful Dwarf
- Alvian Tegleiwalla
Nerdy Painter Elf with a Silly hat

"Technically" 18 is the absolute limit of human capability and anything beyond that is superhuman - but in practice I doubt anyone really cares beyond "wow, that guy is high dex".

I mean, 80 Escape Artist says you can go through a Wall of Force. *???????* No idea.

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Davion Telemos - Monk of the Four Winds
Korthan Isharnos - Dragon Shaman of Thunder Spirit Zamasham

My roll of 4... that is 4, FOUR, i did as a STR check to stop someone falling from a bridge really hurt my pride! Funny as hell at the time though!!

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When it rains, look for rainbows.
When it's dark, look for stars.