4ward/FrankenFourth: Ability Scores

In Dungeons & Dragons, ability scores have always been numbers in the 3-18 range (before racial adjustments at any rate) that gave you other numbers.

The "Easy to Master" black box, which I'm told is actually "The Classic D&D game", which I guess was a replacement for the Basic Set, mostly provided you with modifiers ranging from -3 to +3. Intelligence is the odd stat out, determining how well you can speak, whether you can read or write.

Ability scores in 2nd Edition (and maybe 1st Edition, I dunno as I never played it) differed quite a bit, by having them give you a variety of adjustments, percentages, limitations, and the like.

So, instead of Strength giving you the same +/-x to attack, damage, and opening doors, it now determined your hit probability, damage adjustment, weight allowance, chance to open doors (which I guess was a d20 roll), and your chance to bend bars/lift gates (which was for some reason a percentile roll).

Since 3rd Edition they've used a simple formula: your ability score - 10 / 2 (rounded down) was your modifier. They were also easier to use: instead of, say, having an arbitrary percentage to bend bars, you just made a Strength check against a Difficulty Class, and if you met-or-beat the DC you did it.

4Ward/FrankenFourth works a bit differently: instead of recording something like 7 (-2), 11 (+0), 13 (+1) or 18 (+4), you just record the modifier. So, you might have Strength +2, Wisdom 0, Dexterity -1, and so on.

You can roll for your stats, which currently have the same spread as the Classic D&D game (13-15 is a +1, 16-17 is a +2, and 18 is a +3). Note that you only roll for the number, and only use it for comparison purposes: once you have your modifiers recorded you can just forget about the rolls because they'll no longer impact your character. The only reason we're using them is to maintain the odds of getting a certain modifier.

You can also use one of three arrays (general, dual-role, and specialized). We're not sure if we're going to have scaling ability scores (the game "math" is pretty damned flat already), but if we do you'll just bump up the modifier by 1.

Announcements

A Sundered World is out!

The Fighter is geared up and ready to go! Unlike the default Dungeon World fighter, your skills matter more than your special "can sometimes be lost but not really" weapon. There are a variety of fighting styles to choose from, including the ability make a DEX-based fighter.

Grave Goods is the latest magic item compilation in our 10+ Treasures line. If you want nearly 30 undead-themed magic items, some monsters, and advice on how to make your own, pick it up!

Lichfield is available for public consumption. If you want a concise adventure with a Silent Hill feel, be sure to check it out! Primordial Machine is also out, so if you want to catch a glimpse of A Sundered World, now's your chance! Finally, we've updated If These Stones Could Scream.