Ability Damage and RP

[cmosier]

As I recall, 3.X stated that when certain Ability Scores reached 0, bad things happened. Strength and Dexterity, you were paralyzed. Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma, you were in a coma. Constitution, you were dead.

The game, however, let's you keep on trucking with a -5 penalty. Should we be role playing the pen and paper rules with this? It would give a nice boost to rogues, at least the higher level ones, who can drop your strength pretty quickly.

[Fuzziebunny]

I generally RP any sort of stat decrease greater than 2 or increase that is greater then 4. These numbers are there because of the way I buff my cleric so maybe it is not the right way? I think this is a valid point though and I will try to pay closer attention to this.

I do try to RP damage that other characters do to my own but it is difficult on my cleric because of greater restore and all the other goodies.

[Farmboy2003]

As far as I recall once one ability score went below 1, you gone and died. Itd be hard to rp death when you're not, according to the engine...

[Valhalla]

NWN2, unless Sundren fixed it, doesn't kill you for 0 stats. My old server had a Con poison trap in the final dungeon and people would regularly run around with a -5 mod, and I know it's the same in the base game, too.

Edits: It's much the same how you can't kill people with negative levels.

[Saulus]

If we're talking about rogues expect them to be far more specialized once we implement the new spawn system. Traps will actually disappear (For a prolonged period of time to avoid them respawning during a dungeon run) when triggered or disarmed, and skilled rogues will be able to retrieve them and sell them as some extra profit.

Also, there will be moderate XP bonuses associated with disarming the trap (for the whole party), so everyone benefits.

Traps will not be easily dismissed any longer, I expect to see full party wipes for those who decide just to run down the hallway (even with buffs). Detect traps should be a useful ability and search a useful skill.

EDIT: Oh and I will be curious to see if we need to adjust any of the encounters for things to be more difficult once we setup traps like this

[cmosier]

This is what I was talking about. Should we RP these rules. I understand that NWN2 doesn't support them, but should we respect the pen and papers rules as players?

[GodBeastX]

I could always code it to kill people and worse.

[Kitsunestume]

I could always code it to kill people and worse.

I'ld support penalties for 0-scores, as long as they match up.

quoth d20srd:
A character with Strength 0 falls to the ground and is helpless. A character with Dexterity 0 is paralyzed. A character with Constitution 0 is dead. A character with Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma 0 is unconscious.

Con=Dead
Dex=Paralysis
Strength=Knockdown(if possible)
everything else=Stunned
preferably to be applied until the stat is no longer zero.

Though, this would make Maximised Moonbolt particularly devastating: not that it isn't already.
"Here, take 20 fort-half strength damage, no SR."

[cmosier]

I could always code it to kill people and worse.

For Constitution, that would be perfect.

Strength and Dexterity, maybe paralysis.

Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma maybe something like sleep or paralysis as well.

I do not know what goes into to coding so I'm reluctant to request those types of things.

[Kitsunestume]

My primary concern to tagging effects onto the stat-zeroes is the immunity potential:
Dragons, dragon-disciples, anyone with Draconic Might active all have immunity to paralysis, and would technically be immune to the zero-Dex.

Anyone with Mindblank would be same from stun, sleep, and the like from zero-mental.
Trying to apply a sleep effect to an elf with 0-Cha is a practice in futility.

Would need a means of shoving the status-effect onto the character regardless of spell or other natural immunities, and that might not be possible.

[Fury]

I wholeheartedly support there being in-game, mechanical effects to reduced/negative stat effects.

[Valhalla]

I wholeheartedly support there being in-game, mechanical effects to reduced/negative stat effects.

There already is, lol.

What was put forward here is adding a PnP rule that would lend an additional mechanical effect, one which NWN2 wasn't balanced around.

I'm not sure it's a bad thing, as it could encourage people to have more well-rounded stats. But a rogue coming out of stealth and savelessly instagibbing a wizard with 8 strength would kind of blow, lol.

[cmosier]

There already is, lol.

What was put forward here is adding a PnP rule that would lend an additional mechanical effect, one which NWN2 wasn't balanced around.

I'm not sure it's a bad thing, as it could encourage people to have more well-rounded stats. But a rogue coming out of stealth and savelessly instagibbing a wizard with 8 strength would kind of blow, lol.

Every character has it's weaknesses. For mages, it's usually Strength. For Byrun, it's half-elves and paladins. Regardless. This would make rogues just a little bit more awesome game wise. :-)

[Doubtful]

NWN2, CvC and balanced are three words that don't really mesh.

I'd support this kind of change, even if it would mean having to jump at shadows a bit more.

[Lotus]

Seems reasonable.