here is how I think stats should work, followed by my suggestion for hr/dr.
Strength - Affects physical damage and maximum weight capacity.
Dexterity - Affects accuracy, evasion, and number of items carried.
(Kvetch wondered why this effects items carried, but to put it simply
this is your measured ability in being able to SHIFT weight, alongside
the idea of having nimble fingers, wrists, knees, and so on. very simple)
Wisdom - Affects resistence to spells and the practice points gained
per level.
Intelligence - Affects effectiveness with spells.
Constitution - Affects how many hit points are gained per level.
Charisma - Affects ones ability to charm, barter, and summon.
(This stat would become mostly a minor stat for mages, and priests and instead
become a stat more important to Gypsies who have become the 4D Bard, and Espers
with their crazy mind magic. This stat would just increase the EFFECTIVENESS, like Intelligence,
of said spell/skill groups)
I believe that all damage needs to become standardized. By this I mean that Damage Roll should be an applicable and important stat to all classes across the board. By doing this, we create a more level playing field. The same goes for Hitroll. This is a measured ability to determine the occurence of a successful strike/dodge. This should apply to casters as much as it applies to non-casters. If a warriors HR determines if he'll be MISSED by the lightning bolt, then certainly it should be the same on the casters end to determine the likelihood of a successful strike.
This is just my idea on it all. Let it soak. Let's talk!