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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Can I increase an ability score above 30?
Can I increase an ability score over 30 with an item such as a Manual of Bodily Health?
[After reading] this book... your Constitution score increases by 2, as does your maximum for that score.
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Is it better to take the array and be Joe Average, or to roll for the odds of getting on average better scores?
I am new to D&D. I was looking at character creation for D&D 5th edition. There were a few ways one could generate ability scores. I assumed the optional method of taking the numbers 15, 14, ...
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What happens when ability scores reach 0?
D&D 5E does not seem to have rules for ability score damage (that I could find), although it does mention that if CON is decreased, your maximum HP is reduced.
In addition, the Shadow monster in ...
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Can multi-classing prerequisite ability score(s) be met through a magic item?
The multiclassing rules (PHB, p. 163) state:
To qualify for a new class, you must meet the ability score prerequisites for both your current class and your new one [...] Without the full training ...
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Death by leveling? The effects of 0 max HP and leveling with negative CON
Since per Jeremy Crawford's twitter and Is there a floor for maximum HP? you can get into a situation where your max HP is zero due to leveling up… what happens next?
What happens when your max HP is ...
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Multiclassing: How do Ability Score Improvements work?
Given that every class gets a minimum of 5 ability score improvements each at levels 4, 8, 12, 16, and 19 (Rogue and Fighter get more at other levels), do these ability score improvements occur by ...
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What happens to HP when Constitution decreases?
WotC recently released the Basic Rules for the DM, and with it came a few items like the Amulet of Health:
Wondrous item, uncommon (requires attunement)
Your Constitution is 19 while you wear ...
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Can I increase my intelligence from a Headband Of Intellect?
2 sessions ago, my wizard found a headband of intellect, and used it to up his spells.
Your Intelligence score is 19 while you wear this headband. It has no effect on you if your Intelligence is ...
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How can I avoid problems that arise from rolling ability scores?
Rolling ability scores is a time-honored tradition across many editions of D&D. However, it can sometimes cause problems for players and/or the DM. For example, one player character may end up ...
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At what point does a character's INT drop far enough to lose sentience?
How low does an INT score have to be to prevent a player character from being able to cast spells? Use items or weapons?
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Does the Thrown property mean I can attack with my DEX?
On page 194 in the PHB for D&D 5e, it says:
The ability modifier used for melee weapon attack is Strength, and the ability modifier used for ranged weapon attack is Dexterity. Weapons that ...
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Can you ever use an ASI to increase an Ability Score above 20?
My question stems from this one: Does the Star card from the Deck of Many Things increase your ability score above 20?
How exactly does increasing an ability score above 20, by any means, work at all?...
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How do character stats affect the personality of the character?
When creating a character we obviously place our stats where they are needed. What I am wondering is how do those stats effect the character itself from a role playing perspective.
I went back and ...
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What are the ramifications of switching the spellcasting ability of a class?
With the exception of multiclassing, is there any big reason that if you were to change the spellcasting ability of a (spellcasting) class it would be a bad idea?
As a specific example: Let's say I ...
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Can a creature be brought to consciousness while they have a max HP of 0?
As explored in this question there is at least one situation where a character’s Max HP could be reduced to 0 without explicitly or immediately killing them. We've recently been looking into what does ...
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