D&D 5E [+] Ways to fix the caster / non-caster gap

[Raiztt]

Or the preying mantic men that break the square cube law.

Thrikeen would only break the square-cube law if they were 'normal' preying mantis' scaled up in size in a perfectly proportional way (like if you blassted one with an anti-shrink or enbiggening ray). But I don't think that's the case as far as I know - I doubt we have a detailed breakdown of thrikeen physiology.

In otherwords, the square-cube law is relevant when you're scaling something up and a thri-keen is not a 'scaled up' preying mantis.

 

[Micah Sweet]

A 5e child with a four strength can apparently climb and swim with 60 pounds strapped to them just as easily as they could without it, and anything that doesn't kill them will heal overnight in terms of playing with matches or knives.

Bad mechanics.

 

[Gradine]

The solution is to lean harder into the limitations already inherent in the system.

• Gritty/extended rests. Really stretch them spell slots.
• Time pressure. Ten minutes is a long time when danger is afoot.
• Spell scrolls are extremely rare. Really trim down that spellbook to the essentials.
• Patrons/Deities are extremely limiting in the spells and powers they are actually willing to provide (Remember Cleric Spheres? They're back, in pog form!)
• Antimagic and Wild Magic Zones.

 

[Tony Vargas]

Thrikeen would only break the square-cube law if they were 'normal' preying mantis' scaled up in size in a perfectly proportional way (like if you blassted one with an anti-shrink or enbiggening ray). But I don't think that's the case as far as I know - I doubt we have a detailed breakdown of thrikeen physiology.

In otherwords, the square-cube law is relevant when you're scaling something up and a thri-keen is not a 'scaled up' preying mantis.

Any arthropod would run afoul of the cube-square law. And, D&D, has many scaled-up arthropods. Humanoid giants also can't stand under their own weight, and any flying creature larger than about 60lb/30kg, is also prettymuch grounded.

The cube/square law can't be valid in D&D land.

Which means jumping insane distances (or surviving falling insane distances, which D&D humans can already do), among other things, is on the table. (STR/weight ratios are also a function of the cube/square law, that opens up all sorts of crazy anime/wuxia maneuvers.)

Setting aside magic, in what way are D&D humans physiologically different from RLH?

Well, they can heal from mortally wounded to perfectly healthy in like 8 hours, 1 hr with a bit of theoretical recovery left to do, while receiving only medieval medical care. And, as already mentioned can survive falls from great heights without the slightest disability.

 

[Raiztt]

Any arthropod would run afoul of the cube-square law. And, D&D, has many scaled-up arthropods. Humanoid giants also can't stand under their own weight, and any flying creature larger than about 60lb/30kg, is also prettymuch grounded.

The cube/square law can't be valid in D&D land.

This makes a huge number of assumptions that aren't necessary. The square cube law is concerned with an object, and then scaling it up. So, you take 'Object A' and you make it a larger carbon copy - it has to have the exact same ratio of everything for the law to hold.

I see no reason to assume that a giant spider is literally a small spider made much larger. It could have entirely different physiology compared to it's mundane look alike.

The same for giants - I just reject the assumption that a giant is just a scaled-up human. They could have radically different physiology that enables them to support themselves.

Setting aside the fact that real world conditions absolutely did sustain giant insects in our distant past. They might be impossible now, but they aren't impossible in principle.

Now, a magic spell that makes something grow 10x it's size, that would run afoul of the square cube law.

 

[Tony Vargas]

The same for giants - I just reject the assumption that a giant is just a scaled-up human. They could have radically different physiology that enables them to support themselves.

If D&D giants can have different physiology from RL humans, D&D humans can have different physiology.

 

[Vaalingrade]

In otherwords, the square-cube law is relevant when you're scaling something up and a thri-keen is not a 'scaled up' preying mantis.

The square cube law is simply not relevant to D&D.

Also, it's not about the scaling of the form, but of materials. There's a strength limit to biological materials... outside of a fantasy world.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

I don’t think you can just say square cube law doesn’t apply. It is just consequence of how basic maths work, and I don’t think we can conceive a world to which maths do not apply. You must assume some other reason, either physiological or magical, why those creatures can exist.

I am also not sure that something like humanoidish giants are impossible with normalish physiology. There were pretty damn big bipedal dinosaurs so bipeds of huge size can exist.

 

[Raiztt]

If D&D giants can have different physiology from RL humans, D&D humans can have different physiology.

I don't disagree with that - I just don't want to play a game where humans aren't RL humans.

 

[Vaalingrade]

I don’t think you can just say square cube law doesn’t apply. It is just consequence of how basic maths work, and I don’t think we can conceive a world to which maths do not apply.

Absolutely you can.

You just... don't take that into consideration when writing the story. Fin.