What does "MAD" stand for? I know it means you need too many high stats to be viable (a complaint commonly leveled against the monk, for example). But what does the acronym come from?
*Gregg Helmberger is not afraid to admit -- nay, revel in -- his ignorance.
It stands for Multiple Ability Dependant, requiring 3 key stats to be viable
It's not Multiple Attribute Dependency???
What it means differs depending on what kind of ability score generation you use.
If you roll dice, it means that characters who roll higher have meaningful access to more classes, because MAD classes get more for PCs with many high ability scores. This is kind of a throwback to earlier editions, where character creation was more random. You would roll to see what classes you were even eligible for, and there was very little reason not to play a paladin vs. a fighter if you had the stats to pull it off.
If you use a point-buy system, MAD classes really represent a choice you will need to make (depending on the number of points, I'll base my analysis on 20). You may very well end up cutting off one whole suite of abilities based on your vision of the character. SAD classes don't have these decision points.
Of course, someone is going to come along and claim that this that or the other is mechanically superior. I don't know or care about that. I see MAD vs. SAD as an interaction with ability score generation.
Is MEANING
Aha, thanks. That all makes sense. And now I am ignorant about one less thing...out of an infinity of things I'm ignorant about. Oh well, gotta start somewhere.
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What if MEANS is that if a MAD class does not have multiple high scores it suffers greatly, to the point of being less than optimal or unplayable.
Example of a single attribute class: the wizard.
Str 3
Dex 3
Con 10
Int 22
Wis 8
chr 3
This is actually PLAYABLE. He doesn't need strength because he doesn't melee attack. He stands in the back behind the fighter (where he belongs) so he doesn't need dex for ac or MUCH constitution. He has a good will save so wisdom isn't a priority, and someone else can do the party's talking. Everything rides on intelligence: his offense (more powerfull spells), his defense (more spells to cast), and his utility (ditto)
The mad mad mad mad world of the monk.
Strength: The monk needs this to do damage and hit. Flurries of blows are nice, but you need every + to hit you can manage and +'s to damage come in handy with anyone, but are required against things with damage reduction. This, despite the flavor, should be a monks primary focus.
Dexterity: You're running around a dungeon naked. You better be able to dodge.
Con: If the enemy is in range, then so are you. The monk is a melee combatant...You're in range of everyone. You can't dodge everything, you will be hit.
Int: Yay! a dump stat. You can't dump it too hard though, because you have nice skills and should use them.
Wis: Needs to be high for armor class and for your monk abilities that require a save.
Chr: Drop it like a rock. It does NOTHING for you, and you have every reason to have no social skills. You're a monk. You've lived in an isolated monastery with the same 20 people for your entire life. You've never dated, never even talked to a girl, and have no idea how to deal with the outside world.
If you don't have 4 good stats (either because of high point buy or rolling), you're going to suffer horribly.
The mad mad mad mad world of the monk.Strength: The monk needs this to do damage and hit. Flurries of blows are nice, but you need every + to hit you can manage and +'s to damage come in handy with anyone, but are required against things with damage reduction. This, despite the flavor, should be a monks primary focus.
Dexterity: You're running around a dungeon naked. You better be able to dodge.
Con: If the enemy is in range, then so are you. The monk is a melee combatant...You're in range of everyone. You can't dodge everything, you will be hit.
Int: Yay! a dump stat. You can't dump it too hard though, because you have nice skills and should use them.
Wis: Needs to be high for armor class and for your monk abilities that require a save.
Chr: Drop it like a rock. It does NOTHING for you, and you have every reason to have no social skills. You're a monk. You've lived in an isolated monastery with the same 20 people for your entire life. You've never dated, never even talked to a girl, and have no idea how to deal with the outside world.
If you don't have 4 good stats (either because of high point buy or rolling), you're going to suffer horribly.
A monk can manage with an average Dex, because AC can also be done by Wisdom, and they already have good reflex saves and evasion. That being said, adding a point or two to Dex and a point or two to Wisdom is usually cheaper (either on the points or the cash) than adding 2-4 points to wisdom.
So 3-4 stat MAD.
A monk can manage with an average Dex, because AC can also be done by Wisdom, and they already have good reflex saves and evasion. That being said, adding a point or two to Dex and a point or two to Wisdom is usually cheaper (either on the points or the cash) than adding 2-4 points to wisdom.
A monk needs a good dex because they're wearing no armor. If you have a dex of 10 you put on a chain shirt and get an ac of 14. Unless the monk has an 18 wisdom you need some bonus to your dexterity if you want to at least equal the peasant wandering into the battle strait from adventuremart.