Ability Stats

Also known as ability scores, abilities, attributes, primary characteristics or simply “stats.” These describe the limitations of a character’s prowess in both mind and body. These principle stats are possessed by everyone and include:

Strength: physical musculature and power

Intelligence: problem solving ability and alertness

Wisdom: education and willingness to learn from mistakes

Constitution: sturdiness and overall health

Dexterity: agility and reflex

Charisma: physical attractiveness, persuasiveness and personal magnetism

Both creatures and characters possess these ability stats in some variation, ranging from 0 to 25. Humanoid characters possess a range from 3 to 18 — which, when generated randomly, is a number produced by 3d6.

It is helpful to the character’s survival for stats to be exceptional (with a rating of 15 or 16) in at least two ability stats or gifted (17 or 18) in at least one. When creating a player character, the players increase their odds of obtaining higher ability scores by throwing 4d6 and counting the highest three dice.

Because player characters can gain stats higher than 18 only through adjustments due to age or race, it is generally viewed that stats between 19 and 25 are those reserved for enormously powerful creatures like giants or for the gods. Only weak and helpless creatures have stats that are less than 3.

Ability stats come into play when characters must test their ability stats against tasks they wish to accomplish. This is called an “ability check.” Ability stats also determine which character classes that characters can become, which is detailed under Player Characters.

Ability stats can be drained or augmented by spells, magic items and creatures possessed of natural powers. In all circumstances, the character’s PRESENT stat is always counted towards ability checks and other game elements. For example, a mage whose intelligence is reduced below 9, either temporarily or permanently would lose the ability to cast spells and skills associated with that class. In such cases, the game presumes that the character’s knowledge is restored with the restoration of the ability stat.