Questions tagged [ability-scores]
For questions primarily about ability scores (and their associated abilities), mechanical components of a character in all editions of D&D that represent the character's innate attributes: Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma.
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What is the rarity of a magic item which permanently increases an ability score up to at most 13?
In the DMG there are items like the Tome of Leadership and Influence that gives a permanent +2 to charisma and charisma maximum (and other similar Tomes and Manuals for other abilities), but they all ...
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When does Polearm Master deal more damage than an ASI?
Would a fighter deal more expected damage by picking the Polearm Master feat at any point before they maxed their Strength, or is it better to first always increase your Strength in terms of damage? ...
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Does Great Weapon Master deal more expected damage than an ASI?
Some people claim that an ASI normally contributes more than any given feat. It is nearly always better than the Dual Wielder feat. However, the Crossbow Expert feat is better damage than an ASI (at ...
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In D&D 3.5, what happens when you plop a headband of intellect on an animal?
Prompted by a discussion in comments here
The animal type states:
Intelligence score of 1 or 2 (no creature with an Intelligence score of 3 or higher can be an animal).
A headband of intellect adds ...
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Are ability scores ever rolled for checks?
Are there checks against the ability scores? I do not mean skills.
Eg. In a tavern, a player is challenged to an arm wrestle. Is this resolved via a D20+STR or is this invalid because this is what ...
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When rolling initiative for DM-controlled creatures, does their Dexterity modifier apply?
When the DM is rolling initiative for its monsters, does their Dexterity modifier apply, or does the DM just roll a d20 on its own?
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How to calculate HP if an item increases constitution
I am sorry if this question seems obvious, I just cannot find the answer anywhere.
HP increase every level with the hit dice roll and the constitution bonus is added every level. What happens when the ...
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What is the average total ability score bonus for the best of 4 DCC Characters?
I need some math help to determine what an average character that survived a DCC funnel is like.
When playing a funnel in Dungeon Crawl Classics, players get 4 characters each. Should they survive, ...
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Can you spellburn multiple ability scores in the same casting?
Let's say a wizard is casting a spell, and they spellburn 5 points of Strength, and 5 points of Stamina, for a total bonus of +10 to their spell check.
Is this scenario possible given RAW? The ...
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Does the Feral Tiefling still use Charisma as its spellcasting ability for the Infernal Legacy trait?
I'm new in this world of D&D. I was reading through the Player's Handbook and decided to create a character following the process in Chapter 1 (Step-by-Step Characters).
The Tiefling caught my ...
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Can a shield guardian be commanded to obey commands from the whole party?
This doesn't necessarily apply just to shield guardians, because it could go the same way with other minions.
If you have the ability to command something, a shield guardian in my particular case, can ...
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Does Swordsage's Insightful Strike Apply to Rolls for Ability Score Damage?
Insightful Strike, from the Tome of Battle's Swordsage class, says:
At 4th level, you can add your Wisdom modifier as a bonus on damage rolls whenever you execute a strike from the chosen discipline.
...
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Is there a way to add my Strength modifier to my Armor Class?
It's an age old question -- how can I make it as hard as possible for enemies to hit me, so I can slaughter them without even the slightest jostling of my coif? Typically, for those wanting to proceed ...
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If a sentient item such as Blackrazor maintains concentration on a spell but does not have a Constitution score, can its concentration be broken?
Some sentient items in D&D have spellcasting capabilities. For example, the description of the sentient magic greatsword Blackrazor says (DMG, p. 217):
Blackrazor can cast the haste spell on you ...
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Do Constitution Changes affect Current hit points in D&D 5e?
I know that changes to Constitution retroactively affect Maximum Hit Points, but I'm not sure what to do about current hit points.
Say a level 3 character has 12/20 hit points and their Con modifier ...
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