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<blockquote data-quote="pemerton" data-source="post: 8820048" data-attributes="member: 42582">These claims don't strike me as very&nbsp; plausible.Suppose I know my PC is clever and learned (INT 16, level 5, trained in a knowledge skill). The GM tells me that I have heard rumour of an ancient legend about a mysterious whatever-it-is, to whih my knowledge skill is relevant. The GM has also, in some previous narration, mentioned that such-and-such a place has the greatest library in the known world. How likely is it that I can learn more about this thing by visiting that library?The GM tells me that a chasm is close to 20' wide. I know that m PC is strong and fit (STR 16, level 5, trained in Athletics). How likely is it that I can jump the cavern?The GM tells us all that we're shipwrecked, on a shore that looks pretty barren, with only dunes and some stunted grass and shrubs as far as the eye can sea. My PC is a perceptive outdoors type (WIS 16, level 5, trained in Survival). How likely is it that I can find food and water for me and my companions?Those are just the first three examples that I thought of. I think many more could be generated. They all turn on the fact that D&amp;D does not establish any particular correlation between a stat/skill bonus and some measurable level of human ability, nor between reasonably general descriptions of various situations and concrete DCs.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="pemerton, post: 8820048, member: 42582"] These claims don't strike me as very plausible. Suppose I know my PC is clever and learned (INT 16, level 5, trained in a knowledge skill). The GM tells me that I have heard rumour of an ancient legend about a mysterious whatever-it-is, to whih my knowledge skill is relevant. The GM has also, in some previous narration, mentioned that such-and-such a place has the greatest library in the known world. How likely is it that I can learn more about this thing by visiting that library? The GM tells me that a chasm is close to 20' wide. I know that m PC is strong and fit (STR 16, level 5, trained in Athletics). How likely is it that I can jump the cavern? The GM tells us all that we're shipwrecked, on a shore that looks pretty barren, with only dunes and some stunted grass and shrubs as far as the eye can sea. My PC is a perceptive outdoors type (WIS 16, level 5, trained in Survival). How likely is it that I can find food and water for me and my companions? Those are just the first three examples that I thought of. I think many more could be generated. They all turn on the fact that D&D does not establish any particular correlation between a stat/skill bonus and some measurable level of human ability, nor between reasonably general descriptions of various situations and concrete DCs. [/QUOTE]

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