D&D 5E 5E AD&D Restricitons

[delericho]

"fig-leaf"? Exactly what do you mean? Are you suggesting there is some other reason for the STR limits for female characters in 1E AD&D than a wish for some amount of realism?

I think that because that rule was written by Gary Gygax, it is invested in a certain reverence that it doesn't warrant on merit. If it hadn't been printed that one time, nobody would invent it now, and if it had been printed in a book by any other author it would likewise have quietly slipped into oblivion. But because Gygax put it in his book, it's harder to kill than Vecna.

And, yes, I do think that at least some people defend it out of sexist reasons. I'm not making that accusation against you or [MENTION=6683613]TheCosmicKid[/MENTION], because I of course don't and can't know, but in at least some cases? Yes.

Incidentally, the maximum strength cap is incorrect anyway: Becca Swanson can bench press in excess of 480lbs, which places her above 18/00 strength. And while she is obviously an exception individual, so too are PCs.

 

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

I think that because that rule was written by Gary Gygax, it is invested in a certain reverence that it doesn't warrant on merit.

Then why where you posting so much about "realism" when you actually wanted to make an entirely different argument?

 

[delericho]

Then why where you posting so much about "realism" when you actually wanted to make an entirely different argument?

Because the defenses given for the rule are inevitably founded on 'realism'.

 

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

Because the defenses given for the rule are inevitably founded on 'realism'.

So you still think there's a different reason for the rule in the first place?

 

[delericho]

So you still think there's a different reason for the rule in the first place?

As with a lot of the rules in AD&D1, I'm sure he wrote them because they seemed a good idea at the time. Later, he rethought a lot of his earlier positions. And, indeed, the game he ended up running was apparently considerably stripped back even from AD&D1.

For anything more than that, here's what Gary had to say on the subject.

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[Ganymede81]

The actual limits in place are neither baseless nor arbitrary, so they're well in line with Gygax's words. The only "bizzare silliness" is getting hung up on the actual numbers.

You should follow this post with several sentences explaining your reasoning. That's important because, otherwise, all you are saying is "I disagree."

Additionally, it would be worth pointing out an example of what you imagine "baseless limits arbitrarily placed on female strength" would actually entail.

 

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

You should follow this post with several sentences explaining your reasoning. That's important because, otherwise, all you are saying is "I disagree."

Additionally, it would be worth pointing out an example of what you imagine "baseless limits arbitrarily placed on female strength" would actually entail.

Maybe we should start by defining the meaning of the words "baseless" and "arbitrary"?

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

As you used the words, if you had a meaning outside the generally accepted one, perhaps you would share it?

What is the generally accepted meaning?