"I invent Greek Fire!" and other PC shenanigans

[Committed Hero]

If it's a game with magic, chances are that magic will do it better. Plus, if you can accept magic in your game, why can't you accept that chemistry may not work the way it does IRL?

Obviously a historical game might require a different analysis, but a GM should be allowed to

 

[Bae'zel]

If it's a game with magic, chances are that magic will do it better. Plus, if you can accept magic in your game, why can't you accept that chemistry may not work the way it does IRL?

that’s not the issue. The issue is accepting that a character without any practical in-game knowledge of engineering inventing a trebuchet or an uneducated, non alchemist inventing gunpowder out of nowhere. In one day (or in even less time than that). Meanwhile wizards take hundreds of years to perfect a fireball or potion of healing. Maybe the hero is special and innovative. Sure. But why would a farmer suddenly grasp how to make elaborate chemical explosive or mustard gas without any prior hint that they knew about anything that could lead up to that?

Sure, an alchemist, artificer, engineer, scholar or masterful military tactician can invent amazing things. How did the Orc Barbarian suddenly know how to make rockets?

 

[Committed Hero]

I agree; it's the kind of thing a GM should mention in Session Zero, or even an OOC ruling.