Drowning and "strenuous activity"

[Crazy_Dragon]

I think the real question here is this: Is sex considered strenuous activity?

What?

Yes it is, sex can be a very strenuous cardio workout, it drastically increases heart rate thus making you consume more oxygen, however a +1 amulet of fornication can assist in making the skill check


Note: YMMV

 

[LostSoul]

It's a DM call.

 

[nai_cha]

I would go with a basic common sense approach, any activity you would think that would cause you to start breathing heavily would count.

Can I pick a lock without getting tired afterwards? Yeah probably.

Can I engage in a big combat swinging a sword around, probably not.

This.

But if you really want to be specific about it, like have a hard and fast rule that you can refer to, "strenuous activity" is defined medically as activities that burn more than 350 kilocalories per hour (at least, in healthy individuals with no significant cardiovascular or pulmonary conditions).

That includes sex. It does not include lockpicking, unless there's a treadmill slap up against the entrance. (Hm, there's an interesting trap...) Or perhaps if you were the locksmith that answered the call at the end of "Robin Hood: Men in Tights."

With all that said, I'd much rather go with the common sense rule because the idea of D&D characters counting calories is incredibly off-putting.

 

[ourchair]

This.

But if you really want to be specific about it, like have a hard and fast rule that you can refer to, "strenuous activity" is defined medically as activities that burn more than 350 kilocalories per hour (at least, in healthy individuals with no significant cardiovascular or pulmonary conditions).

That includes sex. It does not include lockpicking, unless there's a treadmill slap up against the entrance. (Hm, there's an interesting trap...) Or perhaps if you were the locksmith that answered the call at the end of "Robin Hood: Men in Tights."

With all that said, I'd much rather go with the common sense rule because the idea of D&D characters counting calories is incredibly off-putting.

Also strenuous activity may not be *physically* strenuous.

I can't imagine a wizard being underwater, trying to cast a daily and then not have to make an Endurance check afterwards. Same thing for picking locks. It doesn't have to be physically taxing, just require a moderate amount of concentration that is burdened by the act of holding one's breath.

 

[The Human Target]

I gave an extensive (and correct) answer to this in your other thread on the topic.

 

[vic20]

I gave an extensive (and correct) answer to this in your other thread on the topic.

Was it worth linking to?

 

[The Human Target]

Was it worth linking to?

I don't know if anything I post is worth linking to.

 

[P1NBACK]

I would go with a basic common sense approach...

You know, reflecting on this answer, after the last two or so weeks of arguing on these forums about "4E and realism" and "Grabbing a swarm" and my thoughts on common sense as a DM - I find that most DMs aren't ready to use "common sense". It's almost like they want every single possible permutation or situation codified into a rule.

Clearly, we can't do this. So, we must go with this "common sense" approach that you speak of. It's the job of the DM to make those judgment calls (as LostSoul said, "it's a DM call").

Those DM calls are important for a roleplaying game. It's what differentiates tabletop roleplaying from video roleplaying games where they do try to codify every possible outcome (or, just limit you in your possible actions).

I know this thread has been resolved, but when I see suggestion to a DM to take a "common sense" approach, I think that is something valuable and the designers of an RPG should give advice to GM's on how to make those judgment calls.

Anyways, good advice Stalker0. Can't say that enough.