Dungeons & Dragons gameplay
A bookish monk with 20 intelligence but just 4 constitution [...], would intuitively know the perfect regimen for training for a marathon, but couldn't even come close [to] completing one".
[3]: 149 The point buy system was originally added as an optional ruleset in the second edition supplement Player's Option: Skills & Powers (1995) and while it is "largely incompatible with most of the other books released for AD&D second edition" it still "proved very popular among fans".
It is based on several factors such as a creature's natural aversion to physical injury, magical enhancements, and any protective garments worn.
Reflex is based on dexterity or intelligence and can be modified by a shield; it represents a character's ability to dodge.
Will is based on wisdom or charisma; it represents a character's strength of mind and resistance to mental attack.
In 4th Edition, death occurs when a character's hit point value is reduced to half their total expressed as a negative number.
In 5th Edition, a character is killed automatically if the damage is greater than the negative value of their maximum hit points.
Otherwise, a player at 0 hit points must begin making "death saving throws", where an unmodified d20 roll resulting in 10 or above is a success, below 10 a failure.
A fellow player may attempt to stabilize their companion using a medicine skill check, or use more advanced healing options.
A saving throw is made when a character would come to harm from extraordinary means such as poisons and magical compulsions in nature.
A saving throw is performed similarly to a skill check, with a d20 roll result added to the relevant ability modifier and, if applicable, the proficiency bonus.
[25] The key way characters progress is by earning experience points (XP), which happens when they defeat an enemy or accomplish a difficult task.
[26] Acquiring enough XP allows a PC to advance a level, which grants the character improved class features, abilities and skills.
[5] A skill check is successful when the roll is higher than or equal to the difficulty class (DC) of the task.
The "Heroic", "Paragon", and "Epic" descriptors indicate that the character must be in that tier or higher in order to choose the feat.
