D&D 5E Convince me that the Ranger is a necessary Class.

[niklinna]

I would not mind penalties, but not having them opens up many character concepts, also most of the races(species) are humans+cosmetics, so generally same ability is expected.


but small vs. medium size strength being equal is breaking the disbelieve a little;

average halfling vs average human would make Flyweight vs. super heavyweight completely fair match by comparison.

same goes goes for medium vs. large; you should be one of the strongest humans alive to go against an anorexic ogre and hoping to win a wrestle match.

This is a game where PCs go toe-to-toe with gimongous ancient dragons and demon lords. A human and a halfling are both effectively insect-sized to them, like a deerfly and a mosquito. I'm really not worried about PCs wrestling anorexic ogres.

 

[Not a Decepticon]

So you sublimate your own interests for your players? I don't assume what I want is less important than what they want, and I don't see myself as their employee. We came up with something they enjoy playing and I enjoy running. Turns out that's Level Up with a few houserules. Not my ideal, but it works well enough.

So your more realistic game is one that ended with such vide-game-esque design as to create a source of endless water that doesn't do anything water does?

 

[Micah Sweet]

So your more realistic game is one that ended with such vide-game-esque design as to create a source of endless water that doesn't do anything water does?

You are I assume talking about Supply? Look, I would absolutely love to use a more realistic method to handle survival, with food and water being separately tracked and handled realistically. But it is nigh impossible to get players to buy into something which is functionally a straight negative from their point of view, no matter how much I like it or would be fine with as a player myself. So I accept Supply as a necessary abstraction so I can actually have exploration and travel rules at all.

Just like hit points and the combat rules.

 

[Not a Decepticon]

You are I assume talking about Supply? Look, I would absolutely love to use a more realistic method to handle survival, with food and water being separately tracked and handled realistically. But it is nigh impossible to get players to buy into something which is functionally a straight negative from their point of view, no matter how much I like it or would be fine with as a player myself. So I accept Supply as a necessary abstraction so I can actually have exploration and travel rules at all.

Just like hit points and the combat rules.

No, I mean how A5E version of decanter of endless water somehow produces water that cannot be used in any way water can except the few ways listed because it would "trivialize survival", effectively turning it into item operating on video game logic. So much for realism.

 

[Micah Sweet]

No, I mean how A5E version of decanter of endless water somehow produces water that cannot be used in any way water can except the few ways listed because it would "trivialize survival", effectively turning it into item operating on video game logic. So much for realism.

Ok, fair enough. I actually haven't memorized the descriptions of every magic item in A5e, so I was unaware of that. Even so, I hardly think one wonky magic item implies a lack of interest in realism generally.

Rest assured, if such an item showed up in my game it would operate like normal water.

 

[cbwjm]

No, I mean how A5E version of decanter of endless water somehow produces water that cannot be used in any way water can except the few ways listed because it would "trivialize survival", effectively turning it into item operating on video game logic. So much for realism.

Wait, you can't drink from the decanter in A5e?

 

[niklinna]

Wait, you can't drink from the decanter in A5e?

Maybe it's still good for watering the garden?

 

[cbwjm]

View attachment 364801

Maybe it's still good for watering the garden?

I would probably change that back to fresh or salt water rather than undrinkable if I was playing A5e. Otherwise, seems like a pretty disappointing item to get.

 

[mellored]

I would probably change that back to fresh or salt water rather than undrinkable if I was playing A5e. Otherwise, seems like a pretty disappointing item to get.

Until you want to put out a fire.

 

[cbwjm]

Until you want to put out a fire.

I kind of feel like that doesn't come up often enough that I'd ever feel happy to find a decanter of endless undrinkable water.