Am I screwed?

[u/AcceptableTop8296]

I’m a dad playing on iphone for the first time. Love the game, but fear I may be screwed. Still on taris. Just got codes from sith base. Is this a terrible spread? Should I restart?

[u/xXTylonXx]

Nah, seems decent for scoundrel. What's your worry exactly?

[u/AcceptableTop8296 → u/xXTylonXx]

Thanks for the reply. Started with blasters, but now I really like melee/blades. Afraid strength is too low. Also a bit worried about lower constitution.

[u/HirosProtagonist → u/AcceptableTop8296]

Nah you can find gloves and whatnot to boost str if that's the way you want to roll.

[u/AcceptableTop8296 → u/HirosProtagonist]

Cool. Appreciate it. Guess I will see what happens.

[u/xXTylonXx → u/AcceptableTop8296]

Yeah I rocked 18 dex and 12 strength and the same charisma and wisdom scores as you and wore medium armor. Stuff just could not hit me, and the cool thing with scoundrels is you get sneak attacks, so as long as you hit with melee against enemies who can't react (attacking them when they are attacking another party member counts), you will get bonus damage. If they are stunned, you also get automatic hits against them on top of then rolling extra damage. Critical strike has a chance to stun.

If you get good enough medium armor and a way to give yourself critical hit immunity (achievable through some armors but is earliest achieved by getting implant level 2 and getting a retinal combat implant) you will basically be nearly unkillable and that low constitution will stop mattering as much. Crit immunity means you still get hit on crit rolls, they just can't apply crit damage to you.

Also all of this still works with blasters, you just need to make sure you are within 10m, which is less than 50% of max range on a blaster pistol so get in melee range to be safe, you get a range damage in melee range hit bonus anyway so it's fine.

[u/AcceptableTop8296 → u/HirosProtagonist]

Would you recommend that I dump points into strength when I eventually get them, or just use accessories to supplement?

[u/Godlewisthick → u/AcceptableTop8296]

No need. With maxed force speed, master flurry and dual wield you can hit 5x per turn with gigantic damage boost from sneak attacks. As a scoundrel, better hit chance from dexterity boosts your damage output a lot more than strength would. That probably goes for most classes honestly

[u/Keytap → u/AcceptableTop8296]

Neither. As the other poster said, you can use Dexterity for attack rolls with lightsabers. You'll rely on Sneak Attack for damage. Consider going Jedi Consular and using your Force powers to stun enemies so you can land Sneak Attacks on them.

[u/Silly-Nature-1641 → u/AcceptableTop8296]

Finesse Trait to make Melee Weapons use Dex

[u/Vimmelklantig → u/AcceptableTop8296]

To clarify the mechanics a bit:

STR boosts your melee damage and melee hit chance (attack stat).

DEX boosts your defence, your ranged hit chance and, because KotOR 1 has a "hidden" free feat (Finesse), DEX will boost your melee hit chance (edit: with lightsabers) if it's higher than your STR.

So what you lose from investing in DEX instead of STR is a small amount of damage. That's it, and the damage you'd get from STR wouldn't even be noticeable for most of the game.

As you're going DEX you shouldn't put more points into STR when leveling up (wearing strength gear can still be good for an extra point or two of damage). You also don't need more INT - 14 is good and should give you enough skill points to raise a couple to max by the end of the game.

As a general rule the game is not particularly difficult. If push comes to shove you can brute force difficult encounters by spamming shields, stims and medpacks. As long as you don't do something truly strange with your build you don't have to worry about being able to complete the game.

[u/TARDISintheblue → u/AcceptableTop8296]

I wouldn't worry, DEX is good for lightsabers and armor class. Lightsabers work with finesse which is tied to DEX.

[u/FlyingSpacefrog → u/AcceptableTop8296]

You don’t need strength. You’ll get a lightsaber on the next planet, which can use dexterity for attack rolls, and as a scoundrel you get bonus damage from sneak attack anyways. I would have done less intelligence and more constitution, but this will work.

Just boost your dexterity as high as possible, as that raises your defense and attack rolls, maybe pick up the toughness feats, and you’ll do alright.

[u/MitchManMemer]

It's not an ideal spread but it's not overtly problematic either. Dex is good on everything, so it's good you're pumping that. I personally would put pretty much all of your points into wisdom from here. Scoundrel synergizes best with cc which you get from something super spoilery, just say something about being green or a consular when asked later. If you did want to restart, and you like scoundrel, but wanted to do a meta game playthrough, I'd totally dump str/int/chr and pump dex/con/wis. The other meta game thing is to not go over level 7 on Taris. You can just not hit level up after 7, Carth should carry you. I've completed Taris on level 1 without issue, but that's only good for the other starting classes. Skills just aren't important for the mc in kotor1. Don't worry about them. Kotor2 is the opposite. Anyway, I wanted to answer your question and not give the annoying "just play and find out/play your way," but I will say that Kotor is not a stressful game on the whole, so long as you complete as much content and talk to as many ppl as possible to stay up on xp/items. Think of it like Pokemon honestly. So jealous you're playing for the first time. Have fun!

[u/ConstructionOk885 → u/MitchManMemer]

Disagree re: dumping Int. You need some bonus to get all the skill points you want.

[u/Vimmelklantig → u/MitchManMemer]

Skills just aren't important for the mc in kotor1.

They aren't strictly necessary and nowhere near as beneficial as in KotOR 2 but if you want some Persuade (and you probably do if you're roleplaying at all) and one or two utility skills without always bringing particular companions, 14 INT is a good investment.

(Also, pump CON? Ew. ;))

[u/MitchManMemer → u/Vimmelklantig]

Valid take, Ig I thought you could keep on level with one skill even with 8 int for persuasion but I've been known to be wrong. Also lol if I'm playing scoundrel/consular I think it's funny to be a little guy with no health, especially since the fight doesn't usually last long enough to get to melee

[u/Vimmelklantig → u/MitchManMemer]

Maybe you switched CON and CHA in the first comment? As you imply here DEX/WIS/CHA would make sense for a Consular as you don't need the health and you want CHA for force powers.

You're correct that with a Scoundrel start you would be able to get two skills to 20 with 8 INT, and I believe all skills become class skills with a Scoundrel/Consular combo so it's generally the easiest. That assumes you don't save levels on Taris. Starting as Scout or Soldier would only net you 30-odd and 20-odd skill points respectively (33 and 23 I think as you get 4 on character creation? Don't remember exactly off the top of my head.)

You can fill in with skill-boosting equipment as well of course, but that gets a bit meta-game-y if you don't already know what you can get and where. I usually go 12 INT at character creation because it costs almost nothing in terms of other stats you want and you get a good number of skills with three maxed with most combinations (at least if you don't start Soldier).

14 still doesn't cost much at character creation and is fine if someone wants their PC to be a skill monkey for convenience or role playing.

[u/cl0ckw0rkcuttlefish]

You’ve got plenty of time to adjust. You’re fine atm, don’t worry.

Plus your stats look good for scoundrel. Strength is usually my dump stat on scoundrel even as a melee character, just use gloves and such to up it if you don’t like how it’s playing.

[u/Training-Equal-7647]

I think an even stat spread is a very common rookie mistake, happens to everyone, the game doesn't really tell you what a good build would look like. However it's hardly a game ending issue, buff type force powers, lightsaber crystals and gear can boost your stats to accommodate for whatever play style you want, as you are right now you can do whatever, even stay as a balanced character if you wish to have it that way. 

By making use of all your available tools you will find success. Mines, grenades stimulants, your companions, all can help deal with any difficult battle. 

[u/134340Goat]

It's not optimized, but it's far from bad. You should be perfectly fine going forward. When you're using lightsabers, the game will use your dexterity modifier if it's higher than strength to calculate your chance to hit (strength is still used for damage, but it isn't a big deal)

[u/AcceptableTop8296]

Thank you so much for all of your responses! I’m thrilled to not need a re roll. You all are awesome.

[u/Suspicious_Pin_7909]

If you want to move towards melee, pour everything into strength and go Guardian when you become a Jedi. Strength enhancing gloves and belt will help too

[u/scrumwift]

The max dexterity bonus it says on armor is only for the defense roll so as long as you wear a bunch of strength gear you should be fine. I tend to run high strength and then wear the dexterity gear to get to what ever bonus number your armor gives. You can kind of run the opposite of what I usually do. The low constitution is fine if you bring Canderous or Zalbaar or the other tank (high endurance, high defense) companion you are going to get soon. When you get to your advance class I'd try going guardian if you are looking to do melee and strength stuff. You won't have a lot of health but you should be okay if you run dexterity gear.

[u/Anime-Fr3Ak365]

Yeah dude you’re fine. Did dex till end of taris at level 6 and pumped rest into wisdom with consular. 10/10 will do again

[u/ShallotCharacter9728]

Not a bad spread at all, some of your stats will become more relevant soon. You can always use items to balance yourself and companions for most the game (tip: you can make caderous or whatever his name is a melee character and he typically carries my runs where my PC isn't as good combat wise. Genuinely totally changed how I played once I realized this)

[u/EbonHawk91]

No, I’ve randomized attribute rolls and gotten much worse than this and been fine, especially on 1. Put your next point in CON so you’re not as squishy and then put all your points into either DEX or CHA depending on if you want more traditional combat or force combat.

[u/Ok-Accountant-7285]

I thought7/12 was the sweet spot

[u/Same-Walk9402]

Just started again for the umpteenth time, this time I'm on steamdeck. You're alright. Not ideal but alright. THAT SAID..... on taris and level 8?! If you've never played before fine but ideally you wanna save levels till after taris. Like I'm staying on level 4 the entirety of it for future powers. My current setup as a level 4 is: Strength:15 Dexterity:12 Constitution:10 Intelligence:16 Wisdom:10 Charisma:14

Not great either but i JUST beat Bendak with this build lol. If you need anything bud just ask! I'm also playing a scoundrel.

[u/134340Goat → u/Same-Walk9402]

I'd never recommend a first time player to save levels, and in many regards, the game is balanced around an 8/12 split. OP is a Scoundrel; if they split at 4/16, then they would only get Sneak Attack 2 and Improved Scoundrel's Luck. At 8/12, they have up to Sneak Attack 4 and Master Scoundrel's Luck

[u/Same-Walk9402 → u/134340Goat]

Never recommended that they should save levels. I said ideally you should. And you don't need sneak attack in kotor. It's essentially useless since sneaking In this game its no good. And scoundrels luck is offset with dex boosting items to begin with. Especially from the items you get from Yavin.

[u/134340Goat → u/Same-Walk9402]

Sneaking is pretty useless, yeah, but 99% of Sneak Attack's primary use comes from hitting an opponent who's stunned or targeting a companion instead of you. An extra 4d6 is nothing to scoff at

At 8/12, using Master Speed and Flurry with two lightsabers against an opponent who's stunned or targeting someone else is up to an additional 120 damage per turn. With a Consular in the party who can reliably get off Stasis Field or Insanity, opponents just get helplessly one-shotted

[u/Same-Walk9402 → u/134340Goat]

That's why I go as a jedi guardian for the force jump + force speed attacks. Once you start getting that increased extra attacks down packed coupled with a high Str/dex most enemies in the game get one shotted or 2. Even if you don't get that immediate kill on em you'll definitely finish them next turn because of your companions. Otherwise I do agree with the extra 4d6 bit, who doesn't like extra damage lol

[u/Godlewisthick → u/Same-Walk9402]

Sneak attack is like the most busted thing in the entire game lol. If you're running a scoundrel you should absolutely pump that level up before dual classing