D&D 5E Where does "Willpower" lie... Wisdom? Charisma? or someplace else?

[DND_Reborn]

The title says it all.

In AD&D, it was part of Wisdom, but I wonder with the design of 5E, which does not include it either under Wisdom nor Charisma, where did it go???

 

[Jer]

First you need to define what willpower is and why it is needed in the model for a character. As a game mechanic in 5e there is no "willpower", only CHA, or WIS saves. Charm Person is a WIS save, Calm Emotions is a CHA save, but in general it feels like anything that would have been lumped in as "willpower" under older rules ends up as a WIS save, at least as far as spell saves go. Anything that might previously have been attributed to a character's "willpower" is instead either the force of their personality and sense of self (CHA) or their intuition about the world and how it operates (WIS). You could I suppose say then that "willpower" is an emergent property of the interaction of a character's Charisma and Wisdom.

I wouldn't tho. The dictionary definition of "willpower" is "the ability to control one's own actions, emotions, or urges" or "strong determination that allows one to do something difficult" - in that sense the willpower of a character is where it always has been - in the hands of the player who gets to decide what their character is or isn't going to do.

 

[Cadence]

Willpower seems to usually be the ability to resist things, so Wisdom to me in D&D.
If it is the Power to impose one's Will on others, then Charisma.

 

[Staffan]

Being able to exert your will on others is Charisma. Not having others exert their will on you is Wisdom.

 

[DND_Reborn]

Willpower seems to usually be the ability to resist things, so Wisdom to me in D&D.
If it is the Power to impose one's Will on others, then Charisma.

Being able to exert your will on others is Charisma. Not having others exert their will on you is Wisdom.

Willpower (as one word) is (by both your posts) related to Wisdom then.

 

[Umbran]

Projecting your personality outward is Charisma.

Actually having willpower is largely Wisdom

 

[billd91]

Willpower seems to usually be the ability to resist things, so Wisdom to me in D&D.
If it is the Power to impose one's Will on others, then Charisma.

Yes, Passive (wisdom) or Active (Charisma). Personally, I like the distinction. Works well for physical stuff too - Passive (Con), Active (Str). The only real conceptual challenge is a Dex/Int pairing.

 

[Umbran]

Yes, Passive (wisdom) or Active (Charisma). Personally, I like the distinction. Works well for physical stuff too - Passive (Con), Active (Str). The only real conceptual challenge is a Dex/Int pairing.

The analogies are pretty solid:

Strength and Charisma are the ability to project power.
Constitution and Wisdom are durability.
Dexterity and Intelligence are speed, coordination and flexibility.

It can become much more obvious if you have a psionic system that uses them as such.

 

[Minigiant]

Willpower to be yourself or exert your will is Charisma
Willpower to NOT be yourself or act of instincts or impulses something else Wisdom

Willpower to do what your Character would do is Charisma. Willpower to be yourself, act like yourself, keep
the same friends and enemies, maintain your attitude, or keep the same personality.

Willpower to not do what your Character would do or wants to do is Wisdom. Willpower to fight your fears, ignore your triggers, stall your gratification, or distrust your senses.

In most cases it's Active Willpower in Charisma and Passive Willpower in Wisdom. But examining illusions, mind control, and gaslighting are exceptions.

 

[jmartkdr2]

I'd say both wisdom and charisma - it's split between the two.

So I voted "other", since "both" was not offered.