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I note that in Ultimate Campaign, there are rules for re-training ability score increases, but not the scores themselves.
Is this meant to send a message about the design of PF? Would re-training ability scores be seen as bad juju?
I have a player in my campaign's Barbarian who would like to shift some of his Dexterity into his Strength (first time building, gave him a little too much Dex and not enough Str). I was surprised to find that there was no option for this in UC.
Thoughts from the peanut gallery?
I would say no, absolutely not you can't "retrain" your base abilities in order to increase them compared to what you started with.
As a GM and dealing with a first time player I would simply allow him to change the point buy he used (assuming he used point buy) or otherwise swap strength and dex scores as long as it doesn't alter any feat or other selection that require a minimum amount of either.
You should not allow for retraining of abilities scores like you can with hp (to raise it to the maximum per hit die) because everyone would retrain their stats to be a base of 18 once they accrued enough wealth.
It is generally accepted in virtually all RPGs I've played that original ability scores are un-modifiable because they constitute (heh, pun) the character's actual physical attributes. I can't recall any system that allows you to move the original stats around once the character has begun play.
However, if your GM is OK with it, and the other players are, then that's just fine with me. As a GM I've allowed things like this, especially for new players. But some GMs probably would tell you to roll up (or point buy) a new character.
I suppose it could be withing the purview of a wish to do this, if you wanted to stay as close to the rules as possible.
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Claxon: yeah, it wouldn't work like HP; I'd probably model it off the Ability Score Increase system. Maybe say it takes 5 days per point of ability score changed total (for all scores included).
Adamantine: Yeah. I get that vibe. It's just confusing that you can retraining everything else including your sorcerous bloodline, which is like re-writing your own DNA. Doing some workouts to bulk up in exchange for lesser mobility (Lower Dex, Raise Str) feels much more practical.
But I do get what you're saying. I'll have to think on it.
Retraining your bloodline should happen only with the agreement of the GM, and some corresponding in-game event, otherwise it is indeed a bit silly. For example, you might change from elemental to aberrant after an unpleasant encounter with an aboleth, or vice versa after being cooked. Likewise you might conjure an in-game mechanism whereby your base stats might change. But in that case, balance it by the point-buy costs rather than doing a straight 1:1 swap.
It is generally accepted in virtually all RPGs I've played that original ability scores are un-modifiable because they constitute (heh, pun) the character's actual physical attributes. I can't recall any system that allows you to move the original stats around once the character has begun play.
The Retraining rules introduced in 3.5's Player's Handbook 2 allowed this.
It is generally accepted in virtually all RPGs I've played that original ability scores are un-modifiable because they constitute (heh, pun) the character's actual physical attributes. I can't recall any system that allows you to move the original stats around once the character has begun play.The Retraining rules introduced in 3.5's Player's Handbook 2 allowed this.
They allowed moving around your characters' ORIGINAL stats? I'll have to check up on that. I don't recall that at all.
Yes, it did. it was a 'give and take' thing, based on the point buy, as I recall.
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The retraining rules in general are, while helpful, still pretty limited.
You can only change class features listed while others are stuck, you can't retrain traits, and you can't retrain base ability scores. Dems da breaks.
If you're not playing PFS, make up whatever retraining rules you like based on what's in Ultimate Campaign; should be easy enough.