Qunari backgrounds and starting strength

[Andferne]

I believe that I know the answer to this, but wanted to double check with the community here. Both of the Qunari backgrounds have a potential to give you two +1 stat bonuses to strength. Let's say by random chance a player generates an 18 on their dice roll which gives them a 4 attribute. They place this in strength and choose to be a Qunari. This already gives them a 5 strength without the roll of a background bonus. They happen to roll and get the extra +1 strength bonus. Does that turn their strength into a 6 because it's still in character creation process. Or would that 5 instead become a 5.5.

[Elfie]

"When characters gain a level, they get an ability advancement rather than a direct ability increase."

I would probably argue that they get a starting 6, because the ability-raising rules are specifically described as applying while gaining levels.

Just like if you have a 5 Strength and get Heroic Offense, you're at a 6, not a 5.5.

[si1vergecko]

Yeah that is what I would go with as well. A game a jumped in this weekend had the characters at level 3 and I played a human warrior and I got the strength as high as I could which is a 5. A group member is playing a Tal Vashoth and his strength was already a 6 and for a minute that just plain threw me off. The background was the explanation that was given.

[Sidmen]

I'd like to throw in my concurrence with the two fellas above me here. In the (admittedly rare) event that someone was lucky enough to roll a 4 for an ability, then roll to get an extra +1 strength, I wouldn't rain on their parade by saying "its actually 5 and an advancement point".

[shonuff]

By RAW, I think it should be an ability advancement, but I houseruled them out in exchange for limits on when you can gain an ability.

[The Glen]

The odds of the happening are so rare that I would give the guy STR6 just for rolling Trip 6 followed by boxcars.

[shonuff]

The odds of the happening are so rare that I would give the guy STR6 just for rolling Trip 6 followed by boxcars.

And that's why I don't like the ability advancement concept. Any GM would go ahead and grant the score, which would make the other players cry foul when they got their ability advancement. If the GM didn't grant the score, that would be disheartening to the PC.

IMHO, there should be growth at every level, and a partial advancement doesn't cut it.

[The Glen]

Easy fix is just switch out strength on the chart for another stat. WP for the berresat and agility for the TV would work.

[shonuff]

Except it actually makes sense that Qunari are stronger. Physically, they shouldn't be restrained by the same ability caps as humans/elves/dwarves. If you are going to enforce the cap, what about delaying it by whatever the background allows? So, circle mage ability advancements wouldn't start to 7, Qunari strength wouldn't either, etc.

[Balgin Stondraeg]

I'd say yes. Character creation is not levelling and if someone got that lucky then they can have an ability score above 5 at character creation. If they insist on raising it at 2nd level they'll only get half a point 'though as then they'll be advancing in levels rather than benefitting from extremely lucky dice rolls .

It's unlikely to happen very often and I'm willing to allow a character to benefit frfom the occassional roll at character creation. What's mroe likely is that you'll do the points buy option, the Qunari player will put 3 points in strength, chose the table results (optional) for the extra +1 to 4, then raise it to 5 at 2nd level. At 4th they'd then be adding half a point or they could just put it somewhere else and increase their all round survival chances instead.