So I decided to create a female elven mage character. I chose "Sheltered Childhood" as my background. This combination gives me not just a Strength of 1 but, effectively, a Strength of 0. Any time between the beginning of the game and level 13 when I've wanted to raise my strength up a notch I decided against it because somehow the game tracks that I'm in the hole for Strength by a single point, still.

Lo and behold but do I get to the Elven Ruins quest and I can't pick up the tombstone, nor can I pick up the 900-pound enchanted armor in the nice chest. Unlike a real RPG, I can't have my half-orc buddy pick it up either. D'oh.

Anyone else have similar stories?

The mind boggles.
That's some seriously cold game design, man! I had no idea!

Yeah, that is true. And I guess a failing of bad AI/not enough options with the AI.

But, what did you expect from having 1 strength? Some quests you won't be able to do (though.. I can really only think of three that require really heavy stones). But you can probably complete the main quest (it will just be difficult).

Too bad you can't just direct your stronger companions to pick things up.

Or at least have an "on the floor" section in the inventory screen to enter item trade mode and hand something over directly to them.
At least you can order them to bash chests and doors.

Now I'm terribly curious about the effects of an intelligence of <1, given that we've established the game displays a 1 even when it tracks the actual numbers. I recollect there's means to make somebody dumber than posts, where a post would have Int 0.

My companions would always pick up 'shit' off the ground... I suspect they would do so literally, if left to their own devices.

Its not like the game doesn't have strength potions... strength boosting tonics, strength boosting items, strength boosting spells... And they're good for learning skills that rely on strength and other stats too... pop a pill and learn a skill. Marvellous.

in fallout it was hilarious but it got so so very hard later on with very few skill points.
arcanum also follows that trend apparently so go and do it and post some thoughts.

Wait, what? This is exactly how a "real" RPG is supposed to do it. You have low Str. You cannot pick up heavy objects.

OH DEAR LORD, STOP THE PRESSES! SOMEONE HAS A DISABILITY THAT PREVENTS THEM FROM FINISHING EVERYTHING IN THE ENTIRE WORLD! PSHAW!

Next you'll wonder why you can't become a successful entrepreneur with a Barter of 1.

...I think he was referring more to the fact that he could not order his rather large companion to pick it up for him.

It would be pretty cool if you could get away with a companion pushing you around in a wheelchair while you blast enemies with magic using just your mind for CON 1.