I could be happy with something like that. Making the damage semi-permanent would satisfy my concerns, although there are those in my group who would still want the option to increase stats somehow. But my most pressing, fun-killing concern would be addressed, so I'd have no beef with it one way or the other.Hamakto wrote:2. Side bar on ability damage stating something like this:Not all RP groups enjoy the same style of game. DCC RPG is intended to be gritty and dangerous. If your group is going to have problems with taking permanent ability score loss, then just adjust the ability score loss to be temporary or only semi-permanent. Semi-permanent would be that it would take a week per point to recover and/or require magic spells.
I think the potential for any added system to be more detrimental than a brief capsule on options regarding how a DM can interpret an existing rule is a given. But I'm not sure about that balance thing. DCC doesn't seem that concerned about balance. Which is something I like about it. It sort of handwaves balance as "something that happens amidst all the randomness". Which it kind of does. But not predictably. Again, a positive for DCC, IMO.Hamakto wrote:I honestly believe that implementing a system to 'gain' ability scores will have a far more detrimental to the balance of DCC RPG than a side bar telling DM's to cater to their group.
So while I agree with the quoted statement in principle, I don't see how throwing it at the altar of "system balance" strengthens the position. If anything, implementing something like the 3d6 stat increase would make characters more balanced over time.