Mystic idea

[Sophiestarshaman]

Instead of Wisdom for all Mystics, their Key Ability score is based on which Connection they choose.

Charisma Key
-Crusader
-Devastator
-Flamewalker
-Hive Mind
-Mind Breaker
-Overlord
-Shadow
-Warmonger

Intelligence Key
-Akashic
-Geneturge
-Melophile
-Shaper

Wisdom Key
-Empath
-Healer
-Star Shaman
-Xenodruid

[WatersLethe]

I see no real problem with this, and I would be happy to see it with several character concepts I have.

I assume this would also change their casting stat, correct?

[Sophiestarshaman]

yeah it would definitely change the casting stat and i was even thinking of something like.. Their Mysticism skill and one other skill of their choice is also now based on their Key Ability Score.

[Metaphysician]

I am generally very skeptical of varying primary stat. It trends very heavily towards "Class of whatever I was going to take anyway". Mystics are basically Space Clerics, and just like Clerics they really should be fine with Wisdom as primary stat. Its not even like Wisdom is a weak stat, anyway.

[Sophiestarshaman]

I kinda get what you're saying, but I definitely don't limit Mystics to simply space clerics, since the classes got reformed for this game.
In reality the Crusader Mystic is most certainly the Paladin.. they have Smite.. and that was kinda what kicked off this entire idea. Take a look at the associated Channel Skills from each and that's how I based their Key Ability Score. To me it feels more natural, a larger spread of different key ability score spell casters.

[Garretmander]

I just don't really see the justification for it. I get the associations made between the skills in your list and the key score. It just feels like you're either A) changing things so they fit better in some neat box, or B) changing things so the mystic is better at their connections skills for whatever reason. It just doesn't feel like enough reason to change something as fundamental as a key ability score.

Now, I've always felt that since mystics get their power from some strange cosmic force, they should have been charisma based casters in the first place.

Looking at your list, well... it's decidedly lopsided. On top of that, I could probably make an argument for all but the akashic, healer and the geneturge to switch to charisma too, so...

[Sophiestarshaman]

Making the Mystic better at their Connection skill is definitely part of it, consider a mystic with a Cha based skill vs one with a Wis based skill.. the Cha skill is always going to be lower for a standard mystic because cha isnt as important of a skill.

Not a neat box, more of just what feels right to me.

And yeah, breaking down their connection skills individually there are some that you could argue for various key ability scores. I also was taking the idea of where the Connection idea came from.. ie. Crusader=Paladin=Charisma, Xenodruid=Druid=Wisdom. But their connection skills could lead towards a different idea.. this also brings up the point of the Biohacker and how they get to choose between Wis and Int AND get to switch a couple of skills to work with that choice.

I really liked that idea for the Biohacker and basically would do the same with the Mystic and their connections.

[Metaphysician]

Bare in mind the other side of things: you don't *need* to focus on one ability score nearly as much, due to the extremely generous ability score increases at level up.