Increasing ability scores

[Astrikkar Arkylon]

I've never realized the restrictions on ability score boosts (probably because I have never had a party that got terribly high).
What are the various buffs and boosts players can get an what is the maxium players can artificially increase their scores.

+5 Books (can I put one in each score, or does a character get one book in
their career)
+6 Top three belt of win
+6 bottom three Headband of win
+1 x5 for leveling up

Is that it? Are there other ways (outside of class abilities) to increase ability scores?

I made my newest party roll Classic style so some of their more painful rolls might thank you.

[wraithstrike]

That is about it, but that is all you need.

With all the spells that buff, combined with magic items that boost saves, AC, attack and damage, and so on the party should be in good shape. The game is not designed to boost relevant areas by ability scores alone.

What is classic, 3d6 in order?

[Astrikkar Arkylon]

3d6 put em where you want em. I got a player with a five, tough break.

[Melissa Litwin]

You can get a book for each score.

Sometimes random events might give a +1 inherent bonus to an ability score. For example, my party had a dream-sequence adventure from Desna that when it ended, gave everyone a +1 bonus to Charisma or Wisdom (PC's choice). Those should be very rare, however, as the game is not designed for ridiculous ability scores. At level 20, if you started with a 20 stat and have put everything into it, you wind up with a 36 stat (+13 modifier). That's at the level of demigods and demon lords.

[wraithstrike]

You might want to houserule bonuses into the game as the players level up if you want to keep using the 3d6 rolling method, but don't want characters with really low stats.

[Astrikkar Arkylon]

No, I want them to have lower, more manageable stats; it has just been several years since I've had a party with no natural 18s and at least one stat per character under 10 (I've never DM's one to be sure). Truthfully, I am rather excited to see my players role play their deficiencies.

[Melissa Litwin]

Astrikkar Arkylon wrote:

No, I want them to have lower, more manageable stats; it has just been several years since I've had a party with no natural 18s and at least one stat per character under 10 (I've never DM's one to be sure). Truthfully, I am rather excited to see my players role play their deficiencies.

Oh! It's not a problem, just how things are. In that case, I think you covered everything in your original post.

[Halfling Barbarian]

There are several classes that give bonuses or temporarily raise ability scores that stack with those bonuses. I built a barbarian/alchemist that hits 56 str at level 20...

[David Haller]

A Succubus can grant a +2 profane bonus to charisma... if one can arrange such a thing :)

[Midnight_Angel]

David Haller wrote:

A Succubus can grant a +2 profane bonus to charisma... if one can arrange such a thing :)

Actually, a Succubus can grant that +2 profane bonus to any one single stat... and, unless I missed something, there is nothing (mechanically) that disallows getting multiple profane gifts (to different stats, of course) from multiple Succubi.

[Astrikkar Arkylon]

Thank you all :) I really feel like there should be a consolidated source for these rules in CORE. You've helped me a lot. :D

[Alitan]

And there's always ground-breaking spell research for temporary buffs while hunting for stat books...

Or -- my personal favorite -- cracking open the Book of Vile Darkness for the sacrifice rules. So easily abused...

[Drejk]

Midnight_Angel wrote:

David Haller wrote:

A Succubus can grant a +2 profane bonus to charisma... if one can arrange such a thing :)

Actually, a Succubus can grant that +2 profane bonus to any one single stat... and, unless I missed something, there is nothing (mechanically) that disallows getting multiple profane gifts (to different stats, of course) from multiple Succubi.

"I made a deal with a coven of six succubi and got +2 to all my ability scores! They bombard me with various suggestions all the time but it's not a problem as long as I do not anger those <redacted>... Oh <redacted>!" *thump* of Charisma suffering 12d6 points of ability drain.

[Midnight_Angel]

Drejk wrote:

"I made a deal with a coven of six succubi and got +2 to all my ability scores! They bombard me with various suggestions all the time but it's not a problem as long as I do not anger those <redacted>... Oh <redacted>!" *thump* of Charisma suffering 12d6 points of ability drain.

Well... I never said power comes without a price... or did I?