If you’re new to role-playing games, there are a few things you should know before creating your first character. One of them is that most (if not all) of these games have a stat system to show the strengths and weaknesses of your character. In Dungeons & Dragons, there are six of these stats – Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma and, together, they’re called Abilities.
The typical Ability scores usually range from 1 to 30, although most player characters usually don’t go over 20. Each score has its corresponding modifier which ranges from -5 (for the Ability score of 1) to 10 (for the score of 30). You can also calculate these modifiers by subtracting 10 from an Ability score, and then dividing the total by two (make sure to round down).
Every time you want to do something in D&D Stats Simple Explanation, you will use these modifiers. They will be used for every skill check, attack roll, and saving throw so they can make or break your character. Do you want to escape the king’s guard by leaping over roofs? Fine, roll an Acrobatics (Dexterity) check. Want to move a huge boulder? Well, maybe you shouldn’t have used Strength as a dump stat. Attempting to talk your way out of a sticky situation? Tough luck, boost your Charisma next time.
Today, we are going to go through each of the Abilities, explain what they mean, and why they’re important for your character. Also, there’s a very popular analogy that explains all of the Abilities in D&D Stats Simple Explanation5e by using a tomato as an example and I’ll use it to keep things simple.
Strength is being able to crush a tomato using force
You should boost this stat if you want to play a physically powerful character who prefers closed-quarters combat with thrown or melee weapons like a barbarian, paladin, or fighter. When these characters attack, you will add the Str modifier to the roll which will hopefully give you just the boost you need. Strength also influences how much weight you can lift and carry. Also, if you ever wish to break through a door or pick up and move a hefty object blocking your path you will add the Strength modifier to your skill check.
Dexterity is being able to dodge a tomato if someone chucks it your way
This stat is very important for players who want to use ranged and finesse weapons like crossbows, darts, slings, or even firearms – in these cases, you will add the Dex modifier to your attack roll.
Additionally, if you have a high Dex score, your character will be more agile and have good control of their body. This is handy if you want to sneak past your opponent stealthily, pick a lock (or a pocket), wriggle free of bonds Houdini style or even do some Acrobatics. Classes that typically need good Dexterity scores are rogues and rangers, but also fighters and paladins who use finesse weapons.
Lastly, if you wear light armor, or go unarmored, you add the Dex modifier to your base AC.
Constitution prevents you from falling on your behind when somebody throws an entire sack of tomatoes at you
It also signifies your health and vitality since the amount of Hit Points you gain after leveling up depends on it. This Ability is also important if you want to have a very durable character who can take a lot of punches and just shrug the damage off like a Barbarian, Cleric, or Fighter and if you need to go through very bad conditions like braving freezing weather, swimming through a cold lake, going without sleep, food or water, or trekking across difficult terrain.
Lastly, if you play a class like a Wizard, Warlock, Druid, Sorcerer, etc., and want to cast spells that require concentration, you should go for a high Con score so other creatures have a harder time knocking you out of your trance.
Charisma helps you sell a rotten tomato
This stat is all about your people skills, and how charming, personable, and confident your character is. If you want to try lying your way out of a bad situation or intimidating an NPC to get some information, you will need to pass a Cha check. Also, some casters like a Bard, Paladin, Sorcerer, and Warlock use Charisma as their spellcasting ability, which means this ability should be at the top of their list.
Lastly, Intelligence is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, but Wisdom means that you know not to put it in a fruit salad
I’m grouping these last two stats since they might seem very familiar to a newbie and are most easily confused. Contrary to popular belief – they are not interchangeable. You can think of Intelligence as being book-smart and being able to analyze information and Wisdom, as more street-smart aka being able to perceive your surroundings.
So, you would do an Int check for things like recalling facts about history, nature, arcana, or religion, and if you want to deduct things based on the clues you find. Wizards and artificers use Intelligence as their spellcasting ability modifier which will influence their spell save DC and spell attack bonus.
If you need a survival check or to use your insight to figure out whether somebody is telling the truth, you would do a Wis check. Druids, clerics, and rangers use Wis for their spellcasting.
