The current language for Step 4 of setting your ability score doesn't seem to specify that you can't use these four boosts on the same ability score. But the examples given imply you should use all four boosts on different ability scores.
Its mentioned in step 2, so if you're actually going step-by-step you should already know.
I don’t think it’s clear that that text applies to all steps instead of just to step 2.
Looking at it longer, I wonder if you are intended to be able to double dip on step 4. It still wouldn’t let you go above 18 in your main stat, so I don’t see a danger. And it’d make it easier for any background to qualify for any multiclass.
Looking at it longer, I wonder if you are intended to be able to double dip on step 4. It still wouldn’t let you go above 18 in your main stat, so I don’t see a danger. And it’d make it easier for any background to qualify for any multiclass.
Agreed. It even says "as you see fit." Same goes for step 3 (backgrounds):
The background you choose gives your character two
ability boosts. Usually, this consists of one free ability
boost and one ability boost limited to certain choices by
the background.
and
Backgrounds typically provide benefits to your character
in the form of two ability boosts (one that can be applied
to either of two specific ability scores, and one that is
free)
I don't see any language that says that you can't apply your free boost to the same stat that's fixed.
I wonder why have the limitation in step 2, to not have it in later steps, though.
I have already had a player ask this very thing. We're going with the 18 max being the only limit, but I can see where it could be parsed either way.
Its a good question. And I suspect its so that no race ancestry is +4 to a single stat. Whereas later on (your four free boosts) it doesn't matter.
On page 18 it does say this...
"When your character advances to 5th, 10th, 15th, and 20th levels, she receives ability boosts in four different ability scores."
But those aren't the four ability boosts you get at char gen, either!
In another thread on the same topic they found a better quote on page 16. “When you gain multiple ability boosts at the same time, you must apply each one to a different score.”
So I guess case closed. The language could maybe be better presented. But it was in the book.
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page 18.
When you gain multiple ability boosts at the same
time, you must apply each one to a different score. So,
for example, if your character is a dwarf, she receives an
ability boost to her Constitution score, her Wisdom score,
and one free ability boost, which can be applied to any
score other than Constitution or Wisdom.
Thank you for doing this thread. This was helpful
Just chiming in as I'm doing chargen, but where do the four free boosts come from? All the other stat boosts (race, class, background) are explicitly noted in those sections of chargen, so it's very hard to miss them and you can very clearly see the origins of each of those boosts. The four free ones on the other hand are just kind of there, they just appear from thin air and they're only mentioned in the Ability Score section of chargen. It's weird, and you could feasibly build an entire character without ever even realizing that those stat boosts exist and not realize anything is wrong, or read the section and think that the free stat boosts are referring to the free ones you get from race/class/background. Those stat boosts need to be front and center somehow.