During the discussion regarding Medium armor, Sentinel and the Bulwark trait, I've seen some users express concern when it came to applying ability boosts.
Specifically that they always spend 3 on the main defensive stats (DEX, CON and WIS) out of fear of critically failing saving throws, unless they can gain access to the bulwark trait to negate the dumped DEX score in favor of STR.
Rather than discuss weather these fears are mathematically warranted or not, I wish to instead bring up D&D 4e, specifically how they allow for variable ability modifiers to be used on saves (so for example you could use the highest score between WIS and CHA to determine your Will).
Would PF2e benefit from introducing this mechanic in any way, as an extra means to encourage weird stat distributions? If yes, to what extent?
1) Class specific abilities that can't be accessed by other classes even through Dedication feats?
2) Class specific feats you can gain before your level 5 ability boosts?
3) One use general Feat like Canny Acumen?
4) Separate general feat per Saving Throw?
Paizo could've, but now it's too late.
The stats have been balanced around the current paradigm, i.e. how the stat requirements for a Barbarian MCD (and its greater hit points/Rage hit points) requires Con; or the Champion or Swashbuckler MCDs which require Charisma (despite that being secondary). Those stat reqs balance out some of the defensive bonuses one could get by taking them.
Maybe a clearer example is how the slightly tougher spellcasters (8 h.p./level casters) handle Will saves; those with Wisdom as their casting stat go to Master while the other two (Bard & Oracle) go to Legendary.
I'd thought the idea innovative when I first saw it in 4th, but if PF2 had included it, it would've been a warning sign!
1. This question seems separate?
I appreciate classes having their niches which can't be duplicated by other classes. This allows for effective powers, rather than ones which need to watered down to avoid characters dipping just for the power grab.
Whoops, now after rereading my answers, 1 is clearer to me now. This would've been an interesting choice in the beginning, but not so much now IMO.
2. Not even sure what you're asking here. This doesn't seem connected to having a "weird stat distribution". Okay, maybe I've deciphered it (by reading 3!) in that maybe a feat to make the swap. But since I'm on the No side, no.
3. And no. Even Uncanny Acumen (which I consider a must) doesn't have such power. And such a feat would be a major power bump, not just flavor. While it may seem it'd encourage "weird stat distribution" it'd simply sway standard builds another direction instead, i.e. most Bards would dump Wis if Charisma would suffice.
4. So definitely no, and I'd be wary of any GM that included such feats.
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Personally, I already see "weird stat distributions", like when in Advice somebody recommends a stat array I'd shun, or one that takes the extra penalties to boost a secondary stat, or casually tosses in a suggestion for 14 Cha as if that's cheap, or worse they assert that everybody defaults to an 18/16/12/12/10/10...which none of my dozens of scoped out PCs have. So obviously there's a lot of variety out there! And compared to any other DnD iteration (including 4th), I'd say PF2 allows for the most leeway in stat choices.
I also feel the 4-stats getting bumped is generous toward boosting one's saves. I have a few builds (again, out of dozens) that get strained for Dex/Con/Wis, but even they can get to 18. I think it'd take a PC which needed high Str, Int, AND Charisma to be truly screwed w/ saves (and that sounds like a Mary Sue/Gary Stu character).
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I agree with Castilliano's objections, but more so, I think the issue is this "survivor" mentality.
I wonder if it's a case of playing a campaign where the combats are maybe cranked up just a little too hard, and the value of out of combat stuff is perceived to be too low?
If failing the occasional save in combat doesn't kill you, and doing lackluster in out of combat skill challenges visibly costs you some loot, I think peoples' impression of how crucial each stat is shifts.
I wish! I run with the option of int-to-ac/reflex and cha-to-will without issues. Honestly I kind of wish ability scores just didn't exist. it sucks that you're just never allowed to play a barbarian who's also the smartest person in the room, you know?
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I am not sure about others but I find the 4 stats per level helps. In other games you just go main stat and that was it.
I have never felt the need to go
18 Int
14 Dex
14 Wis
14 Con
On a Wizard for example and level those stats only.
Unless your GM is spamming wisdom saves on your specifically every fight having a low Wisdom has never felt horrible to me.
Most my experience is in the 1-8 range though. Have people played low WIS characters and felt that useless having 18 INT/CHA over WIS?
At least Charisma is kind of useful in this edition.
I feel most people use quite a varied stat array overall.
Variable defense modifier would not be balanced in PF2.
I'll take Champion as an example, with that they only need Strength (cover their attack, Fort, and AC/Ref with heavy armor and Bulwark), and Charisma (Will saves, all their Champions abilities, social skills, rad skill feats, innate magic, powerful MC feats).
Wisdom lose almost all interest as an attribute vs Charisma.
Int/Dex won't change much, but we might see more intelligent medium/heavy armor wearers.
Strength just become OP, so per the champion example.
Wisdom being the default for perception and medicine means it will always be important. Also it sucks to be like "you can choose between being slightly better at a skill, or dying faster".