Attribute vs Attribute Modifier

[capmarvel]

Thinking of designing my own C&C character sheet.

So...thinking of making the Attribute Modifier standout more than the actual Attribute value.

Some games like True20 and it's cousin Fantasy Age (and others) basically get rid of the Attribute since it's rarely used after the initial roll to get the modifier - and it looks like it's not used much in C&C either after the fact.

But...not having played much C&C I may be way off here. Can someone clarify if the Attribute value is rarely used in play but rather the Attribute Modifier is used quite often?

[alcyone]

Of course you still need the score as most spells, items, and effects change the score underlying the attribute, not the attribute directly. And because the C&C attribute bonus curve has a wide middle, it's not true (as in say 3.5e) that a +2 to an attribute is a +1 to the modifier in every case. Though you could rule that as being the case and then it would mostly be ok to discard the score.

Trying to think off the top of my head where else actual scores are important. Constitution score for fatigue in running/swimming I think. Bonus spells granted specify scores specifically. I think the number of places is small enough to make a reasonable substitute.

Now, you could totally hide those scores from the main business area of the sheet in any case; bonuses and primes are king.

[capmarvel]

Was still going to have the Attribute on the sheet - just making the space for the Modifier bigger than it's parent Attribute.

[Captain_K]

Make it in black and white, lots of space and ways to make it each person's own.. one for spell casters one for non-spell casters.. send me it, its automatically in the Domesday...

[finarvyn]

For most of my gaming career, when I typed up my characters I would put the attribute in large size and the modifier to the side as an afterthought in a smaller font. Having played 5E for a while, and seeing that they emphasize the modifier over the raw number, I'm now convinced that the modifier should be the main thing on the sheet.

[Omote]

I also make the underlying attribute number itself more important in my games, by regularly delivering attribute damage from enemies, environmental sources, and of course, magic. I really enjoy players having to worry about not just HP, but other factors that keep their characters upright. In fact, I have a house rule that any attribute reduced to 0 (or below) kills the character. Some have called it harsh, and not important to the game, but that is not how I see it.

~O

[Lord Dynel]

For most of my gaming career, when I typed up my characters I would put the attribute in large size and the modifier to the side as an afterthought in a smaller font. Having played 5E for a while, and seeing that they emphasize the modifier over the raw number, I'm now convinced that the modifier should be the main thing on the sheet.

I'm think I'm of the same mind. While some people may have alternate uses for the main score (such as Omote) of one just prefers it the way it's always been (for nostalgia's sake), I think the attribute modifier taking precedence probably makes more sense. In the old, old days when a score didn't just mean a +/- modifier, the actual score would mean more. But that's really the case anymore. I do think it still needs to be on the sheet, though (in much the same style of 5e, as been mentioned).

[Captain_K]

I like to be able to read them both, clean and clear in black and white.. I guess its the engineer in me that makes me wonder why anyone would do anything but make them the same size. As I get older, bigger and bolder is nice, but I would still make them the same size.