@Richard
It really comes down to knowing your group. If they’re a combat-heavy, min/max group then this kind of character development won’t appeal to them at all. But if they’re a group that enjoys more role-playing then this kind of in-game explanation for low scores may be right up their alley.

My inspiration from this post took the form of one suffering from extensive permanent injury.
.-= Enchelion´s last blog ..Gheron the Veteran =-.

@Toldain
This is exactly the kind of extra role-playing details I’m trying to encourage with this article. Come up with a creative explanation for why you have a low score. We tend not to see these extreme lows any more with 4e D&D, but when we do it’s good to know that it’s seen as a role-playing opportunity rather than a blemish on your character sheet.

@Arcade
I agree that since Fort, Ref and Will are no longer dependent upon just one ability it’s not as detrimental to have 1 low score. You’re right that a low Dex doesn’t always mean you should take heavy armor, but in some circumstances it may be a good call. Most notably if your Int is also on the low end. I agree that having an illness or disability define your PCs shortcomings in a world with magical healing does seem unlikely. We’ve often overcome this by interpreting magic healing as more of a immediate solution. If you’re sick or loose a limb and can’t get magical healing immediately then you’re out of luck. But the quest to find the lost ritual that will cure the king or allow the world’s greatest swordsman to re-grow his missing sword arm can be a great adventuring hook.

@Philo Pharynx
Thanks for jumping in and adding your 2 cents. I agree that I see a lot of PCs with three high scores and then 10, 10, 8 in the other three. I refuse to use this build. Although it can make for a really tough combat character they tend to fall short (big time) in the skills department. All PCs need some versatility and this build really lacks that requirement.

@Arcade – with the new system, many characters I’ve seen have three high starts and three at 8-10. For a few, it’s only two high stats (like the primal classes that can use Con for AC).

@Arcade – It depends on the world – I often don’t see healing magic as being common enough that everybody has access to it. A commoner might not have a powerful enough cleric nearby, or the local cleric is of a different faith and they would require a donation the family can’t afford.

The article is nice because every so often we need a reminder to go and look at our stats, decide what it really means and add some “character” to our characters. I’ll only disagree with 2 statements. First, low dex doesn’t always mean go for heavy armor as a good Int score will take care of your defenses. (warlord, artificer, swordmage, etc.) Second, I usually dislike using injuries or sickness as an excuse unless you make it magic immune. Otherwise, some magic healer who can cure diseases or regenerate limbs can fix you right up. Though if you roleplayed this out and used it as a reason for one of your stat bumps, than that’s great!

This is a character that once she got a little money, bought a wagon and two tents to go adventuring. And lots of clothes. LOTS. One of the tents was to store the wardrobe in, the other for her.

I bought half a dozen identical figures and painted them all differently to portray her constantly changing wardrobe.

She died once. The party decided it didn’t like the Raise Dead odds, so elected a Druid Reincarnation instead. There was much merriment, as I confronted the possibility that she might come back as a bugbear. But the DM rolled “elf”, which she felt was quite befitting her elegance and grace.

For all the mockery of her vanity, I’ve come to realize how courageous a person she was. Adventuring with a CON score of (now) 5 takes a lot of guts.
.-= Toldain´s last blog ..I Came Here to be Podkilled – Overkill Edition =-.