Looking Lovely … in D&D

yandere: I mean, the misconception that Charisma somehow models appearance in D&D always bothered me.
Drudenfusz: You could have male appearance be a function of Strength instead.
blut_und_glas: That’s a very specific view of male beauty you are implying that way, though.
yandere: You would be modeling body type as an element of physical attractiveness standards, but not beauty. Dexterity – although that is equally weird. Or a separate, additional ability.
blut_und_glas: Or you do it via a flexible mapping to existing ability scores depending upon class – the same as with casting ability scores.
yandere: … Fighter: Your Appearance is Strength?
blut_und_glas: Barbarian: Your Appearance is Constitution.
Rogue: Your Appearance is Dexterity.
Sorcerer: Your Appearance is Charisma.
yandere: Ranger: Your Appearance is Dexterity or Wisdom, whichever is higher.
blut_und_glas: Wizard: … Your Appearance is Strength.
Drudenfusz: I like it!
blut_und_glas: What do we make of that, now?
yandere: Put it on the blog?

…

Well, obviously we did just that. Full list:

Appearance may be used like an ability. The score used for determining the appropriate modifier depends on a character’s class (or race), as follows:

Barbarian: Your Appearance is Constitution.
Bard: Choose any one of your abilities to be your Appearance.
Cleric: Your Appearance is Dexterity.
Druid: Your Appearance is Constitution.
Fighter: Your Appearance is Strength.
Monk: Your Appearance is Dexterity or Wisdom, whichever is lower.
Paladin: Your Appearance is Strength or Charisma, whichever is higher.
Ranger: Your Appearance is Dexterity or Wisdom, whichever is higher.
Rogue: Your Appearance is Dexterity.
Sorcerer: Your Appearance is Charisma.
Warlock: Your Appearance depends on your otherworldly patron:
– Charisma (the Archfey);
– Dexterity or Strength, whichever is higher (the Fiend);
– Intelligence (the Great Old One);
– Wisdom (the Walpurgis Night).
Wizard: Your Appearance is Strength.

Elf: Your Appearance is Dexterity or your class’ Appearance ability, whichever is higher.