Reply to thread

Message

<blockquote data-quote="jgsugden" data-source="post: 8219376" data-attributes="member: 2629">Consider this situation: BBEG has a locked vault.&nbsp; It is intended to keep his MacGuffin safe, and he knows the PCs have a master lockpick, so he went out of his way to get the most insanely great lock possible (DC 35)That is a story driven decision by an NPC opponent that results in a high DC for the part.&nbsp; I am all for that type of factoring in of PC abilities.Switch it up a bit now.&nbsp; The BBEG has never heard of the PCs, and doesn't know they have a master lockpick.&nbsp; He doesn't have a reason to get the best lock in the world, but instead should believe that a very good lock (DC 25) should suffice.The party PC, the Master Lock Pick, A 17th level rogue, has devoted Proficiency, Expertise and High Dexterity, as well as Gloves of Thievery, to his craft.&nbsp; He is +22 on those checks.&nbsp; He is the best Lock Pick - ever.+22 versus a DC of 25 sounds a bit bland.&nbsp; Right?&nbsp; He'll snooze through it.&nbsp; Why bother?Because it pays off the investment.&nbsp; Being able to breeze through this challenge is a payoff for investing so much into that ability.&nbsp; It makes him feel like that world's ultimate Lock Pick.&nbsp; It makes him feel hlike a high level hero able to accomplish amazing things.Ah, but being faced by an insanely difficult lock like in our first example ALSO makes him feel like a hero.&nbsp; Nobody else could even have a chance!&nbsp; That is heroic!&nbsp; Agreed - when it is an earned challenge.&nbsp; In our first example, the high DC was there as an intentional response by a BBEG to the capabilities of the PCs.&nbsp; There was a reason for it to be there.&nbsp; If we apply that same unreasonably high DC without there being a great reason for it to be there, we make the amazingly high DC mundane - and make the incredibly devoted Master just seem like a middle of the run struggler.&nbsp; It also strips out the incentive of a PC to invest in abilities like this one.&nbsp; Why be the world's best lock pick when you realize that whether you have a +7, +12, +17 or +22; all that will be required is a roll of 12. You're better off getting guidance or enhance ability.If people invest heavily, they should get a chance to breeze through the challenges that are addressed by their investment.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="jgsugden, post: 8219376, member: 2629"] Consider this situation: BBEG has a locked vault. It is intended to keep his MacGuffin safe, and he knows the PCs have a master lockpick, so he went out of his way to get the most insanely great lock possible (DC 35) That is a story driven decision by an NPC opponent that results in a high DC for the part. I am all for that type of factoring in of PC abilities. Switch it up a bit now. The BBEG has never heard of the PCs, and doesn't know they have a master lockpick. He doesn't have a reason to get the best lock in the world, but instead should believe that a very good lock (DC 25) should suffice. The party PC, the Master Lock Pick, A 17th level rogue, has devoted Proficiency, Expertise and High Dexterity, as well as Gloves of Thievery, to his craft. He is +22 on those checks. He is the best Lock Pick - ever. +22 versus a DC of 25 sounds a bit bland. Right? He'll snooze through it. Why bother? Because it pays off the investment. Being able to breeze through this challenge is a payoff for investing so much into that ability. It makes him feel like that world's ultimate Lock Pick. It makes him feel hlike a high level hero able to accomplish amazing things. Ah, but being faced by an insanely difficult lock like in our first example ALSO makes him feel like a hero. Nobody else could even have a chance! That is heroic! Agreed - when it is an earned challenge. In our first example, the high DC was there as an intentional response by a BBEG to the capabilities of the PCs. There was a reason for it to be there. If we apply that same unreasonably high DC without there being a great reason for it to be there, we make the amazingly high DC mundane - and make the incredibly devoted Master just seem like a middle of the run struggler. It also strips out the incentive of a PC to invest in abilities like this one. Why be the world's best lock pick when you realize that whether you have a +7, +12, +17 or +22; all that will be required is a roll of 12. You're better off getting guidance or enhance ability. If people invest heavily, they should get a chance to breeze through the challenges that are addressed by their investment. [/QUOTE]

Verification