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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Justin Bacon" data-source="post: 2739884" data-attributes="member: 3795">The over-valued CRs of NPC classes and the under-valued CRs of the dragons are well-known discrepancies in the CR system. I would argue that they are, as you say, flaws (particularly the NPC classes). (Actually, I'd take it one step further and say the basic "level = CR" guideline is flawed. I find "CR = level - 1" for PC classes and "CR = level - 2" for NPC classes to be much more accurate.)And it's also true that the system becomes less accurate the further you stray from the standards it assumes (duh). But that's not actually a flaw in the system, just a limitation.And, since the system deals with averages, you'll always have outliers and unusual outcomes.But none of this means the entire system is worthless. The system does, in fact, give you useful information -- as proven empirically by hundreds of thousands of gamers every week.Since the mechancs in 3rd Edition are unified, it's a helluvalot easier to fake it when you need to.If you don't want to get into nit-picky arguments over the rules, then don't play with rules lawyers. It's like saying that the problem with trying to play a nice game of flag-football is the guy who insists on tackling people instead of grabbing the flags.Claiming that the guidelines for determining the difficulty of a particular jump attempt and a particular open locks attempt is, frankly, the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. You can't lockpick a 10 foot chasm or jump over a locked door.As an example, I give you the table from pg. 64 of the 3.5 PHB:Difficulty................Difficulty ClassVery Easy......................0Easy.............................5Average........................10Tough...........................15Challenging....................20Formidable.....................25Heroic...........................30Nearly Impossible............40See, this is what I'm talking about. You don't even know the rules and you're trying to critique them.This generic chart, BTW, is a pretty good way to deal with rules lawyers.DM: You can see some goblins on the far side of the chasm. They're shooting arrows at you.Player: Okay, I want to jump the chasm and attack them.DM: Well, it's going to be a pretty tough jump. Give me a DC 15 Jump check.Rules Lawyer: Ah! Ah! Ah! How wide is the chasm?DM: Lemme check. (checks the guidelines for the Jump skill and finds that a DC 15 Jump check is 15 feet) The chasm is about 15 feet wide.Justin Alexander Bacon<a href="http://www.thealexandrian.net" target="_blank">http://www.thealexandrian.net</a></blockquote>

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