Why was dex made so powerful?

[robbie374]

The issue with Dex is less that it is too powerful and more that it is too necessary.

Every class can benefit from Con, an equal opportunity ability score.
Non magic users can focus on Dex or Str and dump everything else.
Magic users have to focus on Wis, Int, or Cha, and also have to have notable Dex or Str.

Any balance problem between Dex and Str goes away if you use encumbrance. (Why is encumbrance the only variant rule that nobody uses?) If the encumbrance rules sound too complicated, change them to permit a player to carry a number of objects equal to his strength score. Count a pouch of gold or quiver of arrows, etc., as one object.

But casters are all MAD and usually can benefit only from Dex rather than Str. Fix this problem by allowing their primary stats to be useful for defense, and the Dex problem will quickly go away.


Ways ability scores could be used for defense:

Dex: dodge attacks
Str: wear heavy armor that blocks attacks
Cha: dissuade attacks (your natural Charisma causes assailants to question whether they actually want to harm you: they lose heart when they attack you, and miss more often)
Wis: sniff out attacks (your improved Insight and Perception help you notice attacks before they come, giving you a better chance of escaping)
Int: understand attacks (your experience and Intelligence have taught you how attacks work and what makes them tick: you also know how to adjust your position to minimize their effects)

Armor: You can replace your Dexterity modifier with your Charisma, Wisdom, or Intelligence modifier when you calculate your AC. You may not add the same modifier twice.