AD&D occasionally catches flack for trying to add some realism in areas such as the STR score. Personally, I don't think it matters much, but to each their own. However, many players also harp on AD&D for being a chaotic mess of rules and mechanics which cause debate and confusion, requiring clarification and what-not. To an extent I can agree, but one thing I did notice, was an inconsistency regarding the MAX allowed STR for races.
I don't have a problem with the difference between male vs. female, but in the table, it mentions that Human females reach a MAX STR of 18/01-50 while Half-orc females reach a MAX of 18/51-75. However, then, we find that Half-orc males have a MAX of 18/91-99 while Human males have a MAX of 18/00.
But logically, it would only make sense that if orc bloodlines increase the STR of human females to be stronger than pureblood humans, half-orc males should be stronger than pureblood human males. I feel like the stats should be reversed, human males should MAX at 18/91-99 while half-orc males get the 18/00.
Aside from just making Humans the "dominant" race, I wonder if there was some other reason for this?
AD&D Strength Score Maximums
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Necron 99
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“He found himself wondering at times, especially in the autumn, about the wild lands, and strange visions of mountains that he had never seen came into his dreams.” - Fellowship of the Ring, J.R.R. Tolkien
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Necron 99
- Level 8: Noble
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- Joined: December 5th, 2018, 1:43 pm
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
A rather reasonable discussion of the issue regarding character attributes and the changes that have occurred from earlier edition, now seen in 5e. It does come off a bit, as a rant against the latest editions, but really the video is in response to someone else out on YT, that I assume is arguing for the changes to attributes.
I do like the thought that DMJames makes, especially when he goes into the lore aspects of the gods (specifically Gruumsh, Corellon, and Lolth) and how it pertains to the Orcs and Drow. I also think he makes a good argument, in general, about why the stat min/max and negative modifiers are perfectly acceptable.
I do like the thought that DMJames makes, especially when he goes into the lore aspects of the gods (specifically Gruumsh, Corellon, and Lolth) and how it pertains to the Orcs and Drow. I also think he makes a good argument, in general, about why the stat min/max and negative modifiers are perfectly acceptable.
“He found himself wondering at times, especially in the autumn, about the wild lands, and strange visions of mountains that he had never seen came into his dreams.” - Fellowship of the Ring, J.R.R. Tolkien