Level Up (A5E) Do Player Characters Have Average Population Stat Distributions?

[Guest 6801328]

No, I'm looking at a story where the PCs are the only protagonists.

Yeah that pretty much nails the distinction.

 

[Guest 6801328]

Not guilty, y'r honour.

So, wait, there are TWO entirely separate D&D groups who play under these assumptions?

Where did the poster go who was in a kerfuffle over too much abstract philosophizing on my part? He/she should get a load of where this conversation has gone.

 

[Maxperson]

That’s hardline simulationism for ya.

It's actually on soft simulation. I've yet to see anyone here who was hardline.

 

[Guest 6801328]

I'm not cool with this. Statistically unlikely still means possible. Unachievable means impossible, which dis-integrates the PCs from the setting.

Except I'm the motherf$%#ing DM. If I want an NPC to have a superpower POOF! the NPC has a superpower. Even if it's not in the "rules" for NPC generation.

 

[Maxperson]

I'm not cool with this. Statistically unlikely still means possible. Unachievable means impossible, which dis-integrates the PCs from the setting.

I don't know. I find it very fun to disintegrate PCs.

 

[Morrus]

I'm not cool with this. Statistically unlikely still means possible. Unachievable means impossible, which dis-integrates the PCs from the setting.

So, here's a question. Do you play 5E? Because NPCs don't follow PC rules in 5E (or in any version of the game since 3.5 in 2003, 17 years ago). And this subforum is about a version of 5E. I'm just curious where you're coming from here. It sounds like you want an entirely different game, but 5E or a variation isn't going to be that game. I mean, if you think we're remaking 3E in this forum, we're not - I'm sorry!

 

[TwoSix]

I don't know. I find it very fun to disintegrate PCs.

I wish. I’ve tried 3 times in like the last 6 sessions I’ve run and the players saved every time. I also used power word kill on a PC with 101 hp left, which was just insulting.

 

[Charlaquin]

As players, we're free to focus on a sub-set of the population which is conducive to interesting gameplay.

I'm more than cool with this, believe it or not. I don't mind the average PC being a cut above the average commoner as long as a commoner could in theory achieve the same results.

In other words, no, PCs don’t have average population stat distributions

 

[TwoSix]

Except I'm the motherf$%#ing DM. If I want an NPC to have a superpower POOF! the NPC has a superpower. Even if it's not in the "rules" for NPC generation.

This. PCs and NPCs follow the same rules in my game in the sense they both have whatever abilities I deem necessary to fit their story.

 

[Charlaquin]

It wasn't bad at being a bard. No race in 5e is bad at being a bard. None.

Worse at being a bard than a race with a Charisma bonus.