D&D 5E What is the appeal of the weird fantasy races?

[FrozenNorth]

A medium character with a strength of 8 could lift 120 lb, so, depending on race, they might have difficulty. As they should. You wouldn't expect weakings to be able to shin up a rope without a chance of failure. I know I can't climb a rope.

My understanding was that we weren’t talking about a “chance of failure” (which an Athletics check represents). We were saying that centaur PCs were unable to climb due to their weight.

 

[Voadam]

I was probably thinking LG instead of LFR. But really? Someone thought it was a good idea to create the shard mind race, a pile of sentient stone, but not centaurs?

Well centaurs have that issue with climbing or fitting in a kayak so . . . 4e had PC minotaurs instead.

Shardminds as living psionic crystals fit as a new race in the psionic themed book.

 

[EzekielRaiden]

I was probably thinking LG instead of LFR. But really? Someone thought it was a good idea to create the shard mind race, a pile of sentient stone, but not centaurs?

I believe the surmised reason from most fans was that they felt centaurs should still be Large, and there were no Large PC races in 4e due to the knock-on effects that that would have, mostly on the radius of various AoE effects. You cover a lot more ground with a Close Burst 3 if you have a 2x2 space rather than a 1x1 space. (Specifically, you cover a 7x7-2x2 = 45 square area, rather than a 5x5-1x1 = 24 square area.) Since they relied on certain radial effects for the Essentials books, like the Knight and Cavalier Defender Aura, centaurs would have been a headache.

I imagine if 4e had lived longer, centaurs would've come along eventually though.

 

[Oofta]

My understanding was that we weren’t talking about a “chance of failure” (which an Athletics check represents). We were saying that centaur PCs were unable to climb due to their weight.

Which means that there is no need to call for a check if the outcome is certain. If the DM knows the centaur can't lift their weight there's no need for a check.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

My understanding was that we weren’t talking about a “chance of failure” (which an Athletics check represents). We were saying that centaur PCs were unable to climb due to their weight.

It depends on how much more exertion is needed. Someone who can normally lift 120 lb might be able to lift 150 on a good day - 25% more. But for someone who can normally lift 270 lb lifting 122% more is going to be something like DC 30.

And remember, you have to pass a skill check for every 1/2 your move you climb.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Which means that there is no need to call for a check if the outcome is certain. If the DM knows the centaur can't lift their weight there's no need for a check.

I would allow a DC 30 skill check. A super-strong centaur with expertise in athletics might be able to do it.

(It's probably easier to get a group of friends to pull you up though)

 

[Oofta]

Well centaurs have that issue with climbing or fitting in a kayak so . . . 4e had PC minotaurs instead.

Shardminds as living psionic crystals fit as a new race in the psionic themed book.

I remember the minotaurs because I painted special minis just for them (one for me, one for my wife) right before the direction change. I had so many puns lined up that they could have used. It would have been a moooving experience. Oh well.

 

[FrozenNorth]

Which means that there is no need to call for a check if the outcome is certain. If the DM knows the centaur can't lift their weight there's no need for a check.

Then I repeat my question: is this a centaur-specific ruling or is it applied to the 140 lb Str 8 Hexblade?

Because I have seen a lot of Str 8 PCs weighing more than 120 lbs, but I have never seen a DM say “No, you can’t roll an Athletics check to climb, because you are unable to do a pull-up”.

 

[Umbran]

I mean, if it only meant to be used when someone is intentionally being funny, and is instead being used whenever someone finds a post amusing, maybe it just isn’t a useful tool?

All tools need consideration before use to be effective.

 

[Oofta]

Then I repeat my question: is this a centaur-specific ruling or is it applied to the 140 lb Str 8 Hexblade?

Because I have seen a lot of Str 8 PCs weighing more than 120 lbs, but I have never seen a DM say “No, you can’t roll an Athletics check to climb, because you are unable to do a pull-up”.

If something calls for an athletics check, then yes. Climbing an unknotted rope will require a check, potentially one that's too high for a person with an 8 strength. A knotted rope would lower that DC for a humanoid is because they can use their feet. But it might still be a DC 5 athletics check or similar for a humanoid.

Setting the DC for a centaur would be much more difficult for all the reasons mentioned.