Fighters vs. Spellcasters (a case for fighters.)

[TwoSix]

I don't know whether Ahnehnois will call you on that, although I think it reasonably likely. I started university in 1983, and I started playing D&D early in the 10th grade, so I have about 3 years on you.

For some reason, I had the feeling that Ahnehnois was closer to my own age, although I may be confusing him with other posters. I started play AD&D 2e in 7th grade in 1990, when I was 12. Making me now....<shudder>..35.

 

[Wicht]

So is it, or isn’t it, possible using diplomacy to convert the Pope to a different religion (be it atheism, Buddhism or whatever?

Just to break in here for a moment, strictly speaking, diplomacy shifts attitudes, it does not generally shift believes. Knowledge (religion) would be necessary to make the full conversion.

If I was going to make a set of rules for this, they would look something like this:

Converting an NPC to a different religion is difficult, but may be done by the talented evangelist. To convert an NPC, you must first make them either Friendly or Helpfully disposed towards you and then succeed at a Knowledge (religion) skill check where the DC is equal to 10 + target's Charisma bonus + target's Knowledge (religion). If the target is Friendly, as opposed to Helpful, the DC increases by another +5. If the target is deeply religious, such as a cleric or paladin (DM discretion), the DC increases by another +5. Converting an individual requires 7 days minus 1 day for every 5 points by which your Knowledge (religion) check exceeds the DC. You must spend at least one hour of study per required day to convert the target, and if you fail to achieve this one hour, you must start over. If you fail the skill check, the target's attitude towards you shift's by one degree towards hostile for every 5 points by which you failed the roll. If at any time the target becomes less than Friendly, you cannot convert them. A converted individual identifies the religion to which they are converted as their primary faith but may still harbor believes or attitudes from prior religious affiliations (DM discretion).

 

[Wicht]

For some reason, I had the feeling that Ahnehnois was closer to my own age, although I may be confusing him with other posters. I started play AD&D 2e in 7th grade in 1990, when I was 12. Making me now....<shudder>..35.

Since we're laying out our age creds. I started gaming at the age of 9, circa 1982, and bought my Basic set in 1983. So roughly 30 years of gaming, which I think is pretty standard for this site.

 

[Hussar]

I don't think its a sidestep; its my response to the caricature of rule 0 as this complex array when its actually the opposite. Carefully arbitrate means we don't need an overly-intricate model, and instead just decide on a case-by-case basis.

But, since you don't actually have any guidance on what your arbitration will result in, it's all trial and error. Granted, after a decade of play, I'm pretty sure you've got things nailed down. OTOH, I'd rather play in a system where the system doesn't need constant arbitration to make it work.

 

[TwoSix]

Since we're laying out our age creds. I started gaming at the age of 9, circa 1982, and bought my Basic set in 1983. So roughly 30 years of gaming, which I think is pretty standard for this site.

Yea, I'm pretty sure the median poster here is over 40.

 

[Hussar]

Heh this came up in our last session. One of the players commented that I started playing the year that his parents got married. :'( I was a very sad panda.

But, yeah, started in about 1980 with Moldvay Basic here.

 

[Ahnehnois]

For some reason, I had the feeling that Ahnehnois was closer to my own age, although I may be confusing him with other posters. I started play AD&D 2e in 7th grade in 1990, when I was 12. Making me now....<shudder>..35.

I think age can be viewed through profile, yes?

In any case, I'm 27 and started playing D&D at age 13-14 (1998-1999) with 2e. Generational gaps seem to be a big issue for some people on these boards. In any case, I'm "only" a twenty-something who's been playing for roughly half my life.

 

[Jackinthegreen]

Heh, here I feel young at 24. I started playing D&D in 2006 during my junior year of high school so for about a third of my life I've participated in games and discussions about it.

Even with a heavy-handed DM, I do see some problems with the game. The swashbuckler, for example, has rather poor class features past about 7th level. In fact, a +2 weapon enhancement (so available by level 10 or so if one goes by the WBL table) entirely replaces the level 19 ability and even does it better since it doesn't require a crit confirmation to deal Con damage although it still doesn't work on things immune to critical hits anyway. When a core weapon ability (wounding in case anyone was wondering) can entirely replace a class's capstone ability several levels before that ability comes into play, there's something wrong with how they've been set up.

 

[TwoSix]

I think age can be viewed through profile, yes?

In any case, I'm 27 and started playing D&D at age 13-14 (1998-1999) with 2e. Generational gaps seem to be a big issue for some people on these boards. In any case, I'm "only" a twenty-something who's been playing for roughly half my life.

It seems to depend on the privacy settings. Hussar and manbearcat don't appear, but most of the other people in the thread have it open. You're 27, I'm 35, Wicht is 40, pemerton is 41, N'raac is 47, dwimmerlied is 34, and Lanefan is 52. Pretty normal ENworld spread, I would imagine.

 

[Manbearcat]

It seems to depend on the privacy settings. Hussar and manbearcat don't appear, but most of the other people in the thread have it open. You're 27, I'm 35, Wicht is 40, pemerton is 41, N'raac is 47, dwimmerlied is 34, and Lanefan is 52. Pretty normal ENworld spread, I would imagine.

I see your 35 and I raise you 1.