Which Ability Scores are Most / Least Important?

[Ed Zachary]

I know that it depends on class as to which are the most important. But hypothetically speaking if you were to roll up 20 characters from different classes, which abilities would you tend to put the higher scores in, and which do you generally neglect?

Charisma would probably be the most neglected, followed by Wisdom.

[Karui_Kage]

The most important score is subjective, as it would vary from class to class.

Least important score? It depends on what party you were trying to build. Probably charisma or intelligence, as you rarely need more than one 'face man' or 'skill b****'. Maybe even strength.

I'm a bit on the opposite end, myself, but I can see it working out that way with an 'optimized' party. Constitution is important to everyone for hit points, Dexterity for AC and ranged to hit (and even melee to hit with Weapon Finesse), and Wisdom for will saves, spot checks, listen checks, etc. Strength would be on the high end for tanks and such, but depending on how many of those their were, might be towards the bottom.

Overall, I'd say it went like this:
Most Important
Constitution
Dexterity
Strength / Wisdom
Intelligence
Charisma
Least Important

[Moritz]

Doesn't matter, I rolled all 18's!

[Moritz]

Charisma is definitely at the bottom of my list unless I'm a Sorcerer. Even if I'm a Cleric, I neglect it because the Turn Undead chance/effect sucks unless you're in your teens and have a 30 Cha. Perhaps for a Paladin it's alright to benefit your saves, but eah.

Constitution, like with Karui is at the top of my list. It helps with survivability.

Then Dexterity/Strength/Intelligence/Wisdom comes in second depending on whether or not your a ranged, hand to hand combatant, wizard, or cleric. Heck, with Wizard, being a d4, Intelligence may be at the top of the list because you're gonna die if a giant sneezes on you.

[Karui_Kage]

In more depth, going from 'most valued' to 'least valued' and assuming all humans with the standard 11 classes:

Barbarian: STR, CON, DEX, WIS, INT, CHA
Bard: CHA, DEX, CON, INT, WIS, STR
Cleric: WIS, CON, DEX, STR, INT, CHA
Druid: WIS, CHA, CON, INT, DEX, STR
Fighter: STR, CON, DEX, WIS, INT, CHA
Monk: DEX, CON, WIS, STR, INT, CHA
Paladin: STR, CON, CHA, WIS, DEX, INT
Ranger: DEX, CON, WIS, STR, CHA, INT
Rogue: DEX, INT, CON, WIS, CHA, STR
Sorcerer: CHA, DEX, CON, WIS, INT, STR
Wizard: INT, DEX, CON, WIS, CHA, STR

Totaling up the points, 6 for most valuable, 1 for least valuable, the end totals become:

STR = 6+1+3+1+6+3+6+3+1+1+1= 32
DEX = 4+5+4+2+4+6+2+6+6+5+5= 49
CON = 5+4+5+4+5+5+5+5+4+4+4= 50
INT = 2+3+2+3+2+2+1+1+5+2+6= 29
WIS = 3+2+6+6+3+4+3+4+3+3+3= 40
CHA = 1+6+1+5+1+1+4+2+2+6+2 = 31

So, end results become:
Most Valuable
CON
DEX
WIS
STR
CHA
INT
Least Valuable

Overall, the only difference between this list and my original guess is that Charisma is more valuable than Intelligence. I can see why. Bards and Sorcerers use it as their primary spellcasting, Paladins make good use of it. The only class that uses Intelligence primarily is the Wizard, for everyone else, it's just bonus skill points. Some may change a couple things of the order I picked, but overall, those preferences seem to be the norm for the majority of player's I've had.

[Moritz]

Well then, someone just got all technical on us

[Ed Zachary]

I like playing Wizards, so I usually take a high INT by default. But for role playing I like to have alot of skills, so INT is important for all my characters.

Here's someone who rolled really low on intelligence

[Karui_Kage]

Haha. Too true.

I can be the same way, I do like a high Int. In general though, it's on the low end of 'overall good' abilities. Wisdom ranks higher because of its use with Willpower, and some of the more common skills (Spot, Listen). Intelligence is very useful for Wizards and Rogues, but only a nifty boost for anyone else. It's definitely on the low end for any tank, and can even be on the low end for a rogue (after all, they already have 8+).

[Rain_Spider_08]

High intelligence is the most important to me, I'm a skill points freak

[Karui_Kage]

So if you were playing a Fighter, and rolled an 18, 15, 13, 12, 11, and 8, you would put the 18 in Intelligence?

[Ed Zachary]

So if you were playing a Fighter, and rolled an 18, 15, 13, 12, 11, and 8, you would put the 18 in Intelligence?

STR: 18 (+4)
CON: 15 (+2)
DEX: 13 (+1)
INT: 12 (+1)
WIS: 11 (+0)
CHA: 08 (-1)

[Karui_Kage]

I would switch the Wis and Int, but otherwise I agree. I was saying that towards Rain Spider, since he said high intelligence was the most important.

[starfalconkd]

Hmmm, tough question. For me:
Dex - Don't get hit.
Int - Make brilliant plan to avoid getting hit. Have lots of skill points.
Chr - Smile while not getting hit. Be an effective leader.
Con - Just in case you get hit.
Wis - To pad the will save a bit.
Str - Meh, whatever. This is why they invented Bull's Strength.
Did I mention I like bards?

In the fighter example:
Str:15 (fighter smash, but not as good as other guy)
Dex:12 (comfortable in heavy armor, increase later for dodge chain)
Con:18 (lots of hp)
Int:13 (combat expertise and prep for whirlwind attack)
Wis:11 (increase and buy iron will to pad will save)
Chr:8 (fighter kill good, not have much personality)
Stat increases go: str, dex, wis, str, str

[Rain_Spider_08]

I would switch the Wis and Int, but otherwise I agree. I was saying that towards Rain Spider, since he said high intelligence was the most important.

I'm a she not a he, and I'd never play a fighter. I prefer Int due to my love of skill points.

[shilar]

I'm with rain spider. A lot of problems with other stats can be made up for with good feat selection and a good plan. Give me the skills baby. Dex and con are next for me because I usually end up the party mine detector. Need those high saves.