D&D 5E Ability vs. Modifier

[Yunru]

So I'm thinking about making items that are simple +X to stat, however that involves wordy language since I want them to be able to stack with features (such as the Barbarian Capstone). Which got me thinking: What if it only provided +X to the stat modifier?

Now the only corner cases I can see are encumbrance and stat requirements for armour and multicalssing, but do others exist?

 

[thethain]

You could just copy and paste the Ioun Stones for the various stats.

You might consider just granting a bonus to attack and/or damage rolls to skip the ability score middle man.

 

[Phazonfish]

I actually did a topic on something similar a while back. I asked people to list as many situations where an odd score is better than an even score with the same modifier, other than the fact that the odd score is easier to bump up to an even score. About 75% of the posts that tried to give an answer essentially said "Because it's easier to bump up to an even score." The other 25% were very helpful though, here's what we got:

• Multiclass and Feat Requirements (as you have already listed)
• Distance you can jump (Strength)
• Amount of weight you can carry/push/lift/drag (Strength)
• The Barbarian's Indomitable Might Feature (Strength)
• The Knowledge Domain Cleric's Visions of the Past Feature (Wisdom)
• Armor Requirements (Strength)
• The DC of the Linguist Feat (Intelligence)
• Resisting and Intellect Devourer's Devour Intellect Attack (Intelligence)

 

[Oofta]

Not sure what the issue is. In my campaign all the stat bump items add a static +n to ability scores instead of replacing them. They stack with any ability score the PC has.

My only restriction is that items that if the resulting ability score can be above 20 the item requires attunement, and the belts of X giant strength have their maximum ability score allowed set to the value they would normally set it to (+1). So belt of hill giant strength that would normally give you a 21 strength now gives you a +2 up to 22 and requires attunement. Gauntlets of ogre power also give a +2 but max of 20 and no attunement.

 

[Yunru]

Not sure what the issue is. In my campaign all the stat bump items add a static +n to ability scores instead of replacing them.

As an example, take the Blessing of Health and Primal Champion.

If you have 22 Constitution when you have either, the other does nothing.

Now this is very edge case, in vanilla. But it won't be all that edge case in my campaign.

Swapping to modifier increases alleviates that, but I wanted to know what edge cases that creates.

 

[Oofta]

As an example, take the Blessing of Health and Primal Champion.

If you have 22 Constitution when you have either, the other does nothing.

Now this is very edge case, in vanilla. But it won't be all that edge case in my campaign.

Swapping to modifier increases alleviates that, but I wanted to know what edge cases that creates.

True. In my campaign, the gauntlets of ogre power won't do anything if you already have a strength of 20.

Kind of a compromise so I don't get people wearing too many items, but it works.

So yeah, in some edge cases certain items are "wasted" or people don't bother putting that last 2 points in and take a feat instead.

But I still like it better than "Oooh! Look at little Timmy at only 2 years old lifting the cow! Wait, where did I put my belt of cloud giant strength?"

 

[CapnZapp]

There is no word on how Blessings (a type of reward in the DMG) interacts with other max-inflating features (such as the Barbarian capstone).

To me it's an easy call: let them stack (so the Blessing increases your maximum by 2, even if your maximum is already above 20). What puny god is slowed down by paperwork ("ah well, your blessing doesn't seem to function correctly, lemme see what could have gone wrong").

This isn't a purely theoretical issue either. The official campaign module Out of the Abyss contains one of these rewards.

 

[Yunru]

Technically they don't stack above 22. Both raise it up to a maximum of 22.