Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic/Attributes

At character generation each of the six physical attributes is at 8, with 30 points to invest in them. Any attribute can be increased to a maximum of 18 at this time, but beyond 14 there are increased point costs:

Characters are granted an additional attribute point every fourth level, at levels 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20, so at maximum level 20 an additional 5 attribute points have been granted. If Recommended is selected during or Auto Level Up (which is not recommended), then how these points are invested depends on character class:

These aren't subject to the increased point costs which apply at character generation, so any attribute can be increased to a maximum of 23 by investing points.

However, it isn't the attribute itself which is important but its modifier, which equals (attribute – 10) / 2, rounded down:

Consequently it's normally a waste if an attribute is an odd number after all points and bonuses from equipment, stimulants, ../Force powers/ and any light or dark mastery is taken into account. However, these attribute bonuses are restricted to +20 maximum, which means main player characters can have maximum 43 (modifier +16) for any attribute without using cheats:

In practice, the maximum can only be achieved with Strength, Dexterity or Constitution.

Strength
Strength modifier (STR) adds to the following:


 * with melee weapons and lightsabers
 * with melee weapons
 * Attack with lightsabers when greater than or equal to modifier
 * Difficulty Class

Strength is the primary attribute of melee attackers and offensive lightsaber users, particularly those using Critical Strike; pure ranged attackers and Force users have little or no use for it, so it can even be left at 8 on character generation.

Strength bonuses are granted by the following:

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Maximum Strength: +24 for an armored Jedi Guardian main character with light mastery, or +22 for a dark Jedi: in both cases, this would be restricted to +20 (STR +10).

Dexterity
Dexterity modifier (DEX) adds to the following:


 * with ranged weapons (blaster pistols, blaster rifles and heavy weapons)
 * Attack with lightsabers when greater than modifier
 * Reflex save
 * bonus
 * bonus

Dexterity is the primary attribute of ranged attackers and defensive lightsaber users, and can be a secondary attribute for Force users, as well as more defensive melee characters.

restricts the DEX bonus added to Defense:

Although the modifier displayed on the screen is restricted, this only affects Defense.

mod is restricted to maximum Defense bonus 10 and the sum of Armor and Max Dexterity Bonus is always 9, so maximum Defense bonus 19 can be granted with any armor (although the ../Force powers/ required to maximize feats and effects are restricted by armor, so they'd need to be used before equipping it and engaging in combat).

../Robes/ don't actually have Max Dexterity Bonus, so if feats and effects are maximized then equal or higher Defense is possible with 28 Dexterity (DEX +9) or more; if restricted Force powers aren't used beforehand, then this is possible with 20 Dexterity (DEX +5), or less (since maximum Defense bonus granted with armor is otherwise just 15).

Dexterity bonuses are granted by the following:

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HK-47's bonus(es) only affect him, not your main character.

Maximum Dexterity: +28 for an armored Jedi using a lightsaber, although this would be restricted to +20 (DEX +10) with Max Dexterity Bonus: +(0-5) added to Defense while armored.

Constitution
Constitution modifier (CON) adds to the following:


 * points per level
 * Fortitude save

More than 14 Constitution at character generation or investing more points later is rarely (if ever) recommended, although neither is leaving it at 8 (unless you're an experienced player).

Constitution bonuses are granted by the following:

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Maximum Constitution: +21 for an armored Jedi Sentinel main character with light mastery, although this would be restricted to +20 (CON +10).

Intelligence
Intelligence modifier (INT) adds to the following:


 * Skill points granted at character generation
 * Skill points granted per level up
 * , and  bonus
 * Difficulty Class
 * vitality repaired by repair kits

It's recommended to only invest points in Intelligence at character generation to maximize skill points granted at that time, and on :


 * Character generation


 * Level up

Characters are always granted at least four skill points at character generation, and one per level up:

Since skill use isn't necessary to complete the game and all but can normally be delegated to your party anyway, leaving Intelligence at 8 is perfectly feasible (although 10 grants a Scout or Scoundrel four more skill points at character generation, and a Scout, Scoundrel or Jedi Sentinel one more per level up), and more than 14 is rarely (if ever) recommended.

Intelligence bonuses are only granted by the following:

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Maximum Intelligence: +6 (INT +3), to be added to point investment.

Maximum total Intelligence for the Player Character is 29, if including effects of implants and force powers. This would result in a +9 modifier for the Sniper Shot perk from Intelligence. This would also increase associated skills like Demolition, Repair and Computer Use by +9 temporarily. If not including temporary modifiers, the maximum total Intelligence for the Player Character is 23. Putting the last attribute point into Intelligence would not gain any additional skill points, but would allow the removal of the Memory Package implant while still maintaining the +9 modifier for Sniper Shot (with Master Valor). While not the most powerful attribute, a Scoundrel with max Intelligence, Heavy Weapons, Knight Speed and Sniper Shot can be humorously effective in some situations.

Wisdom
Wisdom modifier (WIS) adds to the following:


 * Force power Difficulty Class
 * Force Points per level
 * Will save
 * , and  bonus
 * healed by medpacs and or Heal

Wisdom is the primary attribute of Force users, particularly if neutral or dark, otherwise it isn't worth significant investment since there are other sources (or substitutes) for Will and skill bonuses.

Wisdom bonuses are only granted by the following:

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Maximum Wisdom: +15 (WIS +(7-8), depending on point investment) for a light Jedi, to be added to point investment.

Charisma
Charisma modifier (CHA) adds to the following:


 * Force power Difficulty Class
 * Force Points per level
 * bonus
 * healed by or Heal

Charisma is a secondary attribute for Force users. Otherwise, only a main character should invest points to be persuasive: once Persuade is a class skill after starting as a or becoming a, if maximum skill points are invested (character level + 3) then 16 Charisma (CHA +3) is the maximum ever required for 100% success of all easy, medium and hard Persuade checks, although that can be reduced with  feats and  powers.

Powers only last 20 seconds and can expire during dialog, so achieving Persuade rank = character level + 6 with just skill points, attribute points in Charisma, and Empathy is preferable.

However, if 75% success of hard checks is acceptable (you're willing to fail, or save game beforehand and then load game after failure), Charisma can be left at 12 (level < 4) or 10 (levels 4-7) for a Scoundrel on Taris, or even at 8 for a level > 7 Scoundrel or Jedi.

Charisma bonuses are only granted by the following:

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Maximum Charisma: +8 (CHA +4) for a Jedi Consular main character with light mastery, to be added to point investment.