We've recently started trying to play through the game with 6 characters, and as we're still only a couple of scenarios in, were thinking about changing the line-up around.
when trying to work out what options we didn't really have covered, it struck us that "Intelligence" seems to be in short-supply amongst the heroes - aside from Ezren, nobody starts out at anything better than D6.
Having used Ezren in our 2-character play-through, we were hoping to do without him, but have been struggling to close some locations/deal with other checks in his absence.
Is this a deliberate step by the designers - do people think that future sets are likely to include characters with D8 or D10 as a base intelligence stat? (obviously I could just create a custom character in this vein, but wanted to understand the thought process, rather than trying to redesign a game I've onyl just started playing)
I think it is just how things worked out. I am sure other characters will eventually come along with d8 or d10 or even d12 intelligence. But it just happens that in RotR, it is Ezren or a d6.
You don't NEED Ezren to succeed. So if you don't want him in your group don't take him. You can do just fine without him.
I am sure other characters will eventually come along with d8 or d10 or even d12 intelligence.
Indeed so. Over time, you'll see a balance of characters on every skill. But early on, there will be some discrepancies.