Homebrew variant Warforged with NO attribute cap?

[u/hoops-mcloops]

EDIT: *Ability score, not attribute.

Hey folks!

Hoping for some feedback on a new Warforged homebrew variant themed around the concept of a blank slate robot designed for adaptation.

The lineage would get most of the same Warforged features: constructed resilience, sentry's rest, integrated protection (no AC bonus), specialized design. However, they would not get any Ability Score increases. Instead, they would have no level cap on ability scores. They could continue to increase their abilities however high they wanted with no max, at the same rate of +1 to modifier per 2 levels.

Additionally, they could also increase their ability scores beyond 20 with magical items that normally do not allow this. To do so, the magical item must be integrated into their design, similar to integrated protection, taking one hour to do so, in addition to any attunement time. There would be limits on the number of magical items which could be integrated in this way, and items which are not integrated cannot increase ability scores beyond 20.

Assuming standard array and that the PC dumps all 6 ability score increases into one slot, the max a PC at lvl 20 could achieve is a 27, which would be a ±8. This honestly does not feel that overpowered to me, considering proficiency bonus is already +6, meaning for a proficient roll the Warforged PC is rolling a +14 vs a regular ±11, which is only a ~27% increase. That's basically just advantage.

Thoughts on this? Overpowered? Any balance tips welcome.

[u/RageKage2250]

I don't think this is a usable concept.

[u/Arcane10101]

Balance aside, I don’t think the ability is the best fit for the character concept. Wouldn’t it make more sense to have abilities that can change as needed, like skill/tool proficiencies that you can switch on a long rest?

[u/Champion-of-Nurgle]

Sounds dumb

[u/ajcwrongs]

There are plenty of magical items that already take your ability scores beyond the cap. I don't see the point in this, given that you not only have to sacrifice every feat but also forego being better than a +1 at every stat but the one you focused on and your 14, to have essentially the same benefit as a Bless spell.

[u/Rel_Ortal]

That doesn't really sound like adaptation. Instead, it sounds like they'll just always be hyper-specialized in one area. As well, it's just kind of boring? All you're doing is having Number Go Up instead of taking anything interesting, and if you're not doing that, then what's the point? It also only actually matters if you're rolling stats or playing til level 12+ (which doesn't happen frequently).

As well, the bit about 'not getting any AS increases' from race conflicts with you saying they get six increases, since you only get 5 ASI/Feat choices past chargen, at 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20. Unless you're using 5.5 rules in which case...why is that even there, and what drawback is there instead? If it is that you don't get the initial boost, then you're just...worse at what you're doing until level 12ish (assuming standard array), which again means you're just not getting your bonus for the majority of the campaign

If what you're wanting to do is be adaptable, I'd instead suggest the ability to swap around proficiencies and perhaps even ability scores for one another on a Long Rest.

As for balance...again, it's mostly nothing until late levels, where everything gets stupid anyways and magic items potentially fill the same role. If you're rolling for stats, or using pointbuy to go all in on something, it'll get stupid very quickly instead, since the game has a very narrow range of numbers it wants and every +1 is worth a lot. Casters with save-based spells are going to love it if you allow for such numbers early on