[Krothos]

I'm curious why penalties are applied the way they are in HL. Based upon everything I read in the rules, they are applied in applied in the same manner as ability damage, affecting the ability modifier only. Yet HL treats them as actual score adjustments. This would mean that certain aspects of the character would change and prevent them from being used. Applying the penalty the way HL does also affects other ability-based features of the character (bonus spells, number of uses per day, etc.). These numbers shouldn't be affected.

For example in HL, a character with 13 Strength becoming fatigued would no longer have access to his Power Attack feat (shows red after applying fatigue condition). Rules are the fatigue penalty would only affect the ability modifier (+1 would be come +0).

Also, HL doesn't have the adjustment to apply a "penalty" per se, only adjustments to abilities as permanent and temporary. Creating a new adjustment that applies a -4 penalty to Strength (no damage), would that be a temporary change or a permanent change? Rules make it temporary, and HL applies this as permanent in the same manner as drain.