Dump Stat: Difference between revisions
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A [[Dump Stat]] is roleplaying gamer slang for a character [[statistic]] with a less overall impact compared to the other characteristics. It is the opposite of a [[God Stat]]. Dump stats may be specific to a campaign (for example, an action-focused campaign where most interaction is of the fist-to-face variety will render a character's charming social skills mostly irrelevant), a [[GM]]'s house rules (GMs who cleave to the "roleplaying not ''roll''playing defense often make social skills totally redundant, calling every social encounter entirely based on the player's acting rather than calling for or allowing social skill rolls and letting the character be better than the player at something), or can be present in the system [[RAW]]. Dump stats are often tied to a character's primary class or focus; combat-oriented characters tend to get little benefit from a high [[Charisma]] attribute, for example, whereas spellcasting classes who are usually expected to stay out of frontline combat likewise benefit little from having high [[Strength]]. Conversely, a dump stat could result from minimal penalties for having it low: a fighter can use [[cleric|other]] [[bard|party]] [[sorcerer|members]] to do the talking for him (and paying hookers with gold negates bad social stats altogether), while a weak wizard can get a literal or metaphorical pack mule to carry things for him and not worry about the problems of having low Strength. | A [[Dump Stat]] is roleplaying gamer slang for a character [[statistic]] with a less overall impact compared to the other characteristics. It is the opposite of a [[God Stat]]. Dump stats may be specific to a campaign (for example, an action-focused campaign where most interaction is of the fist-to-face variety will render a character's charming social skills mostly irrelevant), a [[GM]]'s house rules (GMs who cleave to the "roleplaying not ''roll''playing defense often make social skills totally redundant, calling every social encounter entirely based on the player's acting rather than calling for or allowing social skill rolls and letting the character be better than the player at something), or can be present in the system [[RAW]]. Dump stats are often tied to a character's primary class or focus; combat-oriented characters tend to get little benefit from a high [[Charisma]] attribute, for example, whereas spellcasting classes who are usually expected to stay out of frontline combat likewise benefit little from having high [[Strength]]. Conversely, a dump stat could result from minimal penalties for having it low: a fighter can use [[cleric|other]] [[bard|party]] [[sorcerer|members]] to do the talking for him (and paying hookers with gold negates bad social stats altogether), while a weak wizard can get a literal or metaphorical pack mule to carry things for him and not worry about the problems of having low Strength. | ||
When a dump stat is obvious as a result of class selection or rules, if possible, many players will use it to ensure they have high scores in their important abilities (either by placing their lowest score in that stat or by neglecting to improve it in points-buy systems). Some consider this to be [[powergamer|powergaming]], but the practice is very widespread. No matter how you feel about the practice, it's hard to argue that players should be forced to spend finite resources on something that provides them radically lower benefits than anything else you can spend on. Some systems have made level up models which mitigate this a little, making additional points of high attributes more expensive, while low ones are very cheap, at least allowing players to spend left over experience, rather than the full rate for them. Unfortunately, [[Linear Build Quadratic EXP| this carries its own problems]]. A better system is probably attempting to make ''all'' stats important and useful for the core mechanics the game is | When a dump stat is obvious as a result of class selection or rules, if possible, many players will use it to ensure they have high scores in their important abilities (either by placing their lowest score in that stat or by neglecting to improve it in points-buy systems). Some consider this to be [[powergamer|powergaming]], but the practice is very widespread. No matter how you feel about the practice, it's hard to argue that players should be forced to spend finite resources on something that provides them radically lower benefits than anything else you can spend on. Some systems have made level up models which mitigate this a little, making additional points of high attributes more expensive, while low ones are very cheap, at least allowing players to spend left over experience, rather than the full rate for them. Unfortunately, [[Linear Build Quadratic EXP| this carries its own problems]]. A better system is probably attempting to make ''all'' stats important and useful for the core mechanics the game is built around (which for most games means combat). | ||
''[[7th Sea]]'' is a good example of such a system | ''[[7th Sea]]'' is a good example of such a system Since all five stats have a direct impact on combat, dumping any one of them causes harsh, punishing penalties; virtually every new player is advised to buy every stat up to at least two, and most veterans do the same for all but the most gimmicky of characters. | ||
The traditional example is the [[Charisma]] [[Ability Scores|ability score]] from ''[[Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition]]''. All the other stats contribute some sort of primary or secondary gameplay or combat benefit beyond the skills associated with them: [[Strength]] decides melee ability and carrying capacity (with some impact on certain aspects of ranged combat), [[Dexterity]] adds to Armor Class, Reflex saving throws, and ranged ability (along with some forms of melee combat), [[Constitution]] grants extra hitpoints and bonuses to Fortitude saves, [[Intelligence]] gives out extra skill points, and [[Wisdom]] increases Will saves. Charisma ''only'' has an impact outside of skills checks when the DM says it does. Thus, unless the player wants to focus on having social skills or uses the attribute to cast spells, Charisma is always the stat that incurs the least penalties for dumping for any character. | The traditional example is the [[Charisma]] [[Ability Scores|ability score]] from ''[[Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition]]''. All the other stats contribute some sort of primary or secondary gameplay or combat benefit beyond the skills associated with them: [[Strength]] decides melee ability and carrying capacity (with some impact on certain aspects of ranged combat), [[Dexterity]] adds to Armor Class, Reflex saving throws, Initiative checks, and ranged ability (along with some forms of melee combat), [[Constitution]] grants extra hitpoints and bonuses to Fortitude saves, [[Intelligence]] gives out extra skill points, and [[Wisdom]] increases Will saves. Charisma ''only'' has an impact outside of its associated skills checks when the DM says it does. Thus, unless the player wants to focus on having social skills or uses the attribute to cast spells, Charisma is always the stat that incurs the least penalties for dumping for any character. | ||
Notably, both subsequent editions of the game reworked the stat system to make Charisma a more attractive choice for PCs, [[Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition|4e]] by allowing either Wisdom ''or'' Charisma to improve Will defenses and the Power system making it a direct component of many combat | Notably, both subsequent editions of the game reworked the stat system to make Charisma a more attractive choice for PCs, [[Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition|4e]] by allowing either Wisdom ''or'' Charisma to improve Will defenses and the Power system making it a direct component of many character classes' combat ability, [[Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition|5e]] by attaching Charisma saves to a variety of comparatively rare but deeply nasty effects, including resisting possession by outsiders and ghosts, avoiding planar or dimensional displacement, and preventing life drain by various undead monsters. | ||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
Revision as of 16:24, 11 October 2019
A Dump Stat is roleplaying gamer slang for a character statistic with a less overall impact compared to the other characteristics. It is the opposite of a God Stat. Dump stats may be specific to a campaign (for example, an action-focused campaign where most interaction is of the fist-to-face variety will render a character's charming social skills mostly irrelevant), a GM's house rules (GMs who cleave to the "roleplaying not rollplaying defense often make social skills totally redundant, calling every social encounter entirely based on the player's acting rather than calling for or allowing social skill rolls and letting the character be better than the player at something), or can be present in the system RAW. Dump stats are often tied to a character's primary class or focus; combat-oriented characters tend to get little benefit from a high Charisma attribute, for example, whereas spellcasting classes who are usually expected to stay out of frontline combat likewise benefit little from having high Strength. Conversely, a dump stat could result from minimal penalties for having it low: a fighter can use other party members to do the talking for him (and paying hookers with gold negates bad social stats altogether), while a weak wizard can get a literal or metaphorical pack mule to carry things for him and not worry about the problems of having low Strength.
When a dump stat is obvious as a result of class selection or rules, if possible, many players will use it to ensure they have high scores in their important abilities (either by placing their lowest score in that stat or by neglecting to improve it in points-buy systems). Some consider this to be powergaming, but the practice is very widespread. No matter how you feel about the practice, it's hard to argue that players should be forced to spend finite resources on something that provides them radically lower benefits than anything else you can spend on. Some systems have made level up models which mitigate this a little, making additional points of high attributes more expensive, while low ones are very cheap, at least allowing players to spend left over experience, rather than the full rate for them. Unfortunately, this carries its own problems. A better system is probably attempting to make all stats important and useful for the core mechanics the game is built around (which for most games means combat).
7th Sea is a good example of such a system Since all five stats have a direct impact on combat, dumping any one of them causes harsh, punishing penalties; virtually every new player is advised to buy every stat up to at least two, and most veterans do the same for all but the most gimmicky of characters.
The traditional example is the Charisma ability score from Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition. All the other stats contribute some sort of primary or secondary gameplay or combat benefit beyond the skills associated with them: Strength decides melee ability and carrying capacity (with some impact on certain aspects of ranged combat), Dexterity adds to Armor Class, Reflex saving throws, Initiative checks, and ranged ability (along with some forms of melee combat), Constitution grants extra hitpoints and bonuses to Fortitude saves, Intelligence gives out extra skill points, and Wisdom increases Will saves. Charisma only has an impact outside of its associated skills checks when the DM says it does. Thus, unless the player wants to focus on having social skills or uses the attribute to cast spells, Charisma is always the stat that incurs the least penalties for dumping for any character.
Notably, both subsequent editions of the game reworked the stat system to make Charisma a more attractive choice for PCs, 4e by allowing either Wisdom or Charisma to improve Will defenses and the Power system making it a direct component of many character classes' combat ability, 5e by attaching Charisma saves to a variety of comparatively rare but deeply nasty effects, including resisting possession by outsiders and ghosts, avoiding planar or dimensional displacement, and preventing life drain by various undead monsters.