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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Raven Crowking" data-source="post: 5096521" data-attributes="member: 18280">An oil rig is a fine tool for extracting oil, but of little help when constructing a bookcase.  Likewise, in a game where the DM's responsibilities do not include telling if a monster could be reasonably battled, this has little relevance.  Only in a game where (1) the DM determines what encounters will occur (as opposed to a game in which the players have numerous sets of potential encounters, from which they choose), and/or in a game where (2) successful combat is the expected outcome of said encounters, are such tools even relevant.No, in 1e, the DM gets tools to place monsters appropriately, and said appropriate placement is then used (along with divination spells, information gathering, scouting, consulting sages, etc.) by the players to determine where they will go.  Darwin's observations then come into effect.  The players, not the DM, need tools to determine what they can reasonably battle.(Of course, half an iota of common sense will tell both players and DM that, without a magic weapon, a fight with a gargoyle will be disproportionately difficult.  Likewise, that heading down those stairs to level 10 may be a bad idea for 1st level adventurers.  1e requires few tools in this regard because the obvious is, well, obvious.  That said, smart money in bd&d and 1e was always to avoid a fight if a fight could be avoided.  He who lives by the sword -- when another means presents itself -- sooner or later dies by the sword.)This is a feature because pre-2e D&D was largely a game of exploration and finding/recovering loot.  Avoiding fighting was always a smart move, and the tools given reflect that.  Read Gygax's advice in the back of the 1e PHB if you like.....some of the best advice to players ever written (assuming a game that isn't stacked in their favour, and that doesn't assume they'll need or want to fight everything they encounter, anyway!  <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/laugh.png"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":lol:" title="Laughing    :lol:" data-shortname=":lol:" />  ).RC</blockquote>

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