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Can a PC perform a miracle with a stat/skill check?
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<blockquote data-quote="pemerton" data-source="post: 6531336" data-attributes="member: 42582"><p>Adding to [MENTION=6696971]Manbearcat[/MENTION]'s reply: as the system was originally written (in the DMG) XP were awarded for success only.</p><p></p><p>One of the many "stealth errata" in Essentials was to award XP regardless of success or failure.</p><p></p><p>This is a further illustration of the function of XP in 4e: they are not a <em>reward</em> for playing well; they are a pacing device. Roughly speaking, every hour of play in a group of 5 players and 1 GM (the system default) earns 1/12 of a level's worth of XP, provided that the play is genuinely <em>play</em>: ie you are engaged in encounters (combat or non-combat), are achieving goals (quest XP) or are engaged in "free roleplaying" that actually drives the game forward (the DMG2 has the rules for XP for free roleplay).</p><p></p><p>Hence, the game automatically propels the PCs through the "story of D&D", from 1st level characters fighting goblins and kobolds, to 30th level demigods confronting Orcus et al. All the winning and losing is located in the <em>story</em>, not in the mechanical aspects of PC development. In that (relatively narrow) respect 4e has more in common with Classic Traveller than with Gygaxian D&D.</p><p></p><p>There is a flip side to that, though - if everyone is very easy-going about which system they play, why not play this other system that [MENTION=6696971]Manbearcat[/MENTION] thinks is more fun? If the choice of system isn't going to be completely random or arbitrary than presumably considerations of what is enjoyable are a relevant consideration.</p><p></p><p>For many RPGers D&D solves the co-ordination problem of finding a game that everyone can agree on, but as I read it the point Manbearcat is making is that, for him and his friends, other superior points of convergence are available.</p><p></p><p>You seem to be implying that that is precious, but I don't think it's precious at all. Presumably when you go to the movies with your friends you don't just choose a film and a cinema at random. Even though the main point is to have fun seeing a film together, presumably you nevertheless look for a film that is going to be enjoyable for you all.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="pemerton, post: 6531336, member: 42582"] Adding to [MENTION=6696971]Manbearcat[/MENTION]'s reply: as the system was originally written (in the DMG) XP were awarded for success only. One of the many "stealth errata" in Essentials was to award XP regardless of success or failure. This is a further illustration of the function of XP in 4e: they are not a [I]reward[/I] for playing well; they are a pacing device. Roughly speaking, every hour of play in a group of 5 players and 1 GM (the system default) earns 1/12 of a level's worth of XP, provided that the play is genuinely [I]play[/I]: ie you are engaged in encounters (combat or non-combat), are achieving goals (quest XP) or are engaged in "free roleplaying" that actually drives the game forward (the DMG2 has the rules for XP for free roleplay). Hence, the game automatically propels the PCs through the "story of D&D", from 1st level characters fighting goblins and kobolds, to 30th level demigods confronting Orcus et al. All the winning and losing is located in the [I]story[/I], not in the mechanical aspects of PC development. In that (relatively narrow) respect 4e has more in common with Classic Traveller than with Gygaxian D&D. There is a flip side to that, though - if everyone is very easy-going about which system they play, why not play this other system that [MENTION=6696971]Manbearcat[/MENTION] thinks is more fun? If the choice of system isn't going to be completely random or arbitrary than presumably considerations of what is enjoyable are a relevant consideration. For many RPGers D&D solves the co-ordination problem of finding a game that everyone can agree on, but as I read it the point Manbearcat is making is that, for him and his friends, other superior points of convergence are available. You seem to be implying that that is precious, but I don't think it's precious at all. Presumably when you go to the movies with your friends you don't just choose a film and a cinema at random. Even though the main point is to have fun seeing a film together, presumably you nevertheless look for a film that is going to be enjoyable for you all. [/QUOTE]
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