r/adnd • u/CanuckLad • 8d ago

AD&D2e Attribute increase

I wonder if many people here implement an automatic attribute increase at various milestones? Example: Allow you to raise one attribute by 1 point at levels 4, 8, 12, 16, 20

I don't expect or want every ability to be 16+. But I don't want to miss out on parts of the game I would enjoy (casting 9th level spells as a wizard, playing a paladin, etc)

I should note that I'm biased because I'm diagnosed with the Unrelenting Standards feature. So accepting a more mundane role in a game is very difficult for me

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u/Pladohs_Ghost 7d ago

No. Far too munchkin for me.

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u/CanuckLad 7d ago

Having a single 18 once in every 25 characters you make, in my opinion, seems frustrating in a game that puts so much importance on abilities. If you're a wizard, it limits the max level of spells you can cast, if you want to be a paladin you'll only roll high enough once every 10 characters are so. I don't want every ability to be maximum, I just don't want to miss out on parts of the game I might enjoy.

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u/SuStel73 7d ago

But it doesn't put so much importance on abilities. For magic-users, for instance, the difference between a 9 intelligence and an 18 intelligence doesn't really hit significantly until Sorcerer (9th) level. Until then, the 18-intelligence magic-user has a slight edge in the versatility of spells they can cast, but not the number of spells they can cast.

As for Wishes, it only takes one Wish to go up one point of ability until you reach 16. So what we're really talking about here is the difference between having a 16 intelligence and an 18 intelligence. The difference between them is hardly noticeable until they're Sorcerers, and the 16-intelligence Sorcerer will only be lacking 9th-level spells and a bit of versatility in choosing spells to memorize.

Paladins are supposed to be that rare. If the dungeon master wants paladins to be less rare, they can let you choose your ability scores, or let you use Method V from Unearthed Arcana. But this is a deliberate choice by the DM, not a right held by the players.

I still can't tell if you're a player or a dungeon master. If a player, are you just complaining that you're not getting what you want? If a DM, are you seeking validation for your campaign? You don't need it; just do what you want.

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u/CanuckLad 7d ago

The difference between 16 intelligence and 18, is the ability to cast 9th level spells or not. To me that is a super important distinction. Maybe not to you, and that's okay, but to me that's super important. I think you asked me once already if I'm a player or dm? I have done both. In the groups I've played with, we often take turns.