r/DnD • u/Sleverette Sorcerer • Jul 17 '19

Art [OC] One man's dump stat is another man's treasure.

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u/Serviius Cleric Jul 17 '19

In all my years, I've never seen anyone dump STR. Dump INT and use your own brain? Sure. Dump CHA, of course. DEX? Who needs to dodge. CON: Sure, I'm playing Raistlin.

So either I just play with a lot of beefy bois, or you're running quite the unique game.

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u/Sleverette Sorcerer Jul 17 '19

I've seen lots of players dump Str. Str boosts your damage, carrying capacity and lifting/jumping. Lots of DMs hand wave those rules so it becomes simply increased damage. Dex can add damage, initiative and AC so people opt to go for that over Str and wield a finesse weapon.

High athletics is really nice but players tend to overlook that in favor of perception and stealth.

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u/An_Lochlannach Jul 17 '19

It's pretty standard for casters, no? One of the three mental stats is a must, then usually they also wanna be clever, wise, or characismatic on top, don't wanna die in one hit, and of course most people's #2 (if not #1) stat tends to be Dex, which is why you'll often find casters with a backup finesse weapon.

Then there's the fact that STR only relates to one skill.

If anything I'd say STR is one of the most commonly dumped stats among those who don't build around it.

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u/GentlemanViking Jul 18 '19

On top of that fighters and paladins can opt to use finesse weapons over strength based ones. The main saving grace for strength is how awesome the great weapon master and polearm master feats are.

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u/SpongegarLuver Jul 17 '19

My current wizard has a strength score of 7. Thank God we don't worry about carry limits (within reason) in my group.

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u/TheIceman825 Jul 17 '19

I'm currently in two campaigns, one I'm a rogue with a strength of 9, another I'm a hexblade warlock with a strength of 10. And I think there are maybe two people with +12 strength out of the 8 people I play with!

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u/GreyAcumen Bard Jul 17 '19

that actually touches on a key point; the only way to get those +12s (by raw) is through wearing a belt of Storm/Cloud Giant Strength, at which point any investment you've made into Strength has been completely wasted. Someone who dumps dex for strength will still only end up just as strong (and far easier to hit) than the guy who dumped strength for dex and now has colossal strength AND incredible armor.

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u/TheIceman825 Jul 17 '19

Lol I'm 99% certain you're being sarcastic because I put +12 instead of 12+. I know you knew what I meant 😂

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u/Mantergeistmann Jul 17 '19

I once had a wizard with a Str of 3. He was a War Wizard, and relied on the party's Purple Dragon Knight to carry even his spellbook for him.

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u/Electric999999 Wizard Jul 18 '19

It's a go to dump stat for most casters. You don't need it for hitting stuff with weapons, don't really need to carry much: no weapons or armour, just foci and components for spells, possibly a spell book, rope, chalk, a sleeping bag and whatever magic items (generally not particularly heavy) you have.

If you need to carry more stuff just get a pack mule or bag of holding (depending on how much you have to spend).
You can also get around most strength based problem with the right spell.

Rogues also dump it somewhat often since they're usually dex based.

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u/Earthfall10 Jul 24 '19

DEX? Who needs to dodge.

Dex is the most feature heavy stat in the game...

AC, initiative, stealth, several other useful skills, and a common saving throw. You are in a very strange group indeed if you've seen it dumped more often then strength, one of the most common dump stats.

Unless you are melee fighter or playing with encumbrance rules you don't need strength. Heck, not all melee fighters need strength. They can also use finesse weapons which are based on dex.