-4 Str

-4 Str is a meme from /tg/. The term is used as a shorthand way of saying that all women -- especially adventurers -- are significantly weaker than men, and ought to take a -4 modifier to their strength score.

History

Though its origins are shrouded in mystery, some evidence has come along to point to -4 Str's beginnings, or at least a very similar concept.

An oldfag says: "This meme is at least as old as 1978. Check page 15 of 1st ed. AD&D: a table for racial min/max for each stat and gender, but the only real difference is -1 Str for femme Dwarves, -2 Str for femme Elves, -3 Str for femme Gnomes and Halflings. All the other stats -- Int, Wis, Dex, Con, Chr -- are the same for both genders. Cue bashing of Gary Gygax."

There are other differences than the list above, like female humans only getting up to 18/50 Strength where male humans can reach the max cap of 18/100.

See Also:

• Women are Underpowered in d20
• List of world records in athletics

Gallery

• 
  1st Ed D&D; the origin of the meme?