Questions about the players stats mechanic

[Rocketman]

After having read around on the forum and TITS wiki page, I've come to understand that the bosses and other encounters are balanced around the player having either maxed out stats or as close as possible to maxed stats for there level.

My question is, if the the player is expected to have maxed stats for their current level - why do we have the stats to begin with? Is there a background reason as to why the stats don't just advance to the max every time we level up?


(I am not try to criticizing or imply anything negative in regards to the game's current mechanics in regards to player stats - I just asking out of simple curiosity. I'm also not complaining about grinding for stats as I rather enjoy the interactions that come with it.)

 

[Theron]

Fenoxo has said you're not expected to have all stats maxed out. Just because you can, doesn't mean you're expected to.

13 points/level are enough to max 2 stats and keep another decently high.
You are expected to max your Attack Stat.
Smugglers want to max Physique/Aim and Intelligence (factors into Sneak Attack/Aimed Shot). Maybe put some points in Reflexes. Escape Artist (Level 3) converts their chance to escape Grapples to Reflexes if it's higher making Physique less important if they're not Melee.

Mercenaries want Physique/Aim and maybe Will. They get bonus Willpower for Physique, so even Ranged might want to max it. Bigger Guns is underwhelming, even if you aren't maxing Physique. Single Minded (Level 10) maxes out their Will below 50% health so they can neglect it (maybe). Their default special attack also runs off Physique. Only Carpet Grenades and Detonation Charge benefit from Intelligence.

Ranged Tech Specialists want Aim and Intelligence.
Melee Tech Specialists just need Intelligence.

To me the weird thing is you don't want to put your Affinity in a stat you're going to max via level up points, because it also gives a bonus to Slow Stat Gain.
Slow Stat Gain has diminishing returns as you reach your current cap, while the level up points are always 1 to 1.

In my experience, physical Stat training can mostly wait until after Zheng Shi (for the Augment-Weave Armor). I know for a fact Melee Tech Specialists can get away with only maxing Intelligence.

null_blank has done a level 1 playthrough. I hear it's not easy, exactly, but it's doable.

Spoiler: Unsolicited Min-Maxing Advice

The level cap will be 20. 13 (points) x 19 (levels) = 247 Stat points.
247 / 5 = 49 + 2

If use Slow Stat Gain on all your stats, you want to get them to about 50. Then you can use your Level points exclusively for the rest of the game.

If you have 1 stat you max via level up points, you'll want to get your other stats to about 63:
247 - 97 = 150 (if the stat starts at 3, adjust if it doesn't)
150 / 4 = 37 + 2
100 - 37 = 63

 

[Savin]

I've come to understand that the bosses and other encounters are balanced around the player having either maxed out stats or as close as possible to maxed stats for there level.

Wrong.

I've beaten the entire game up to the end of Zheng Shi (when I lost my save >.>) with 0 stat training and mostly unoptimal gear. Game's easy as piss. Grinding your stats exists to make it easier for people that don't care about the gameplay part of their porn. Easy Mode exists for people that don't care to put in the effort to do that... or even bother hitting their [Specials] button.