Lame rule or streak of utter genius? (Movement related)

[woolybearundertaker]

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Hockey goalies need high Str and high Dex as well. The Str to be able to move that stick and/or glove and/or pads fast enough to deflect/catch the puck, and high Dex to get the equipment into the correct position to either deflect the puck to the right place (which doesn't always happen) or even just catch the puck.


I agree with Pyk only up to the goalie part. Blocking a shot would still be Dex IMHO. Moving the stick or glove fast enough to block a shot should be determined by your reflexes.

Hitting the puck hard for a slapshot would be Str.

In any case this is only marginally D&D related To try to bring us back on topic:

IMO, running for distance would be Con based, and
a sprinting competition with a nice smooth track etc. would be str based.

HOWEVER escaping somone in a dungeon is not like running on a smooth oval track. You're zipping around corners, jumping over rocks and ducking vines and stuff to try to escape.
In short, I can see the "logic" of the rules, and would probably use them the few times the situation arose. If the players really wanted to run sprints on a track, I"d make it strength-based.

 

[green slime]

The problem I see with this rule, as well as the skill, is that Dexterity does not influence the speed a character moves. Strength is the attribute which does this. Look at any runner. They are not particularly dextrous, but they are very strong, especially lower body strength. It is the strength of the lower limbs which propels the body forward, and maintains that speed over distance.

Upper body strength.

Sprinters have enormous upper body strength. (remember Ben Johnson?) No pot bellies visible on any sprinters I can remember.

It is the arms which keep a 400 meter runner moving in the last 50 meters. (Believe it or not). It is the arms which provide the sprinter with the momentum and drive and allow them to maintain it. Try sprinting with your arms hanging by your side.

And they are also quite dextrous (not quite ballerina or gymanstics) but are generally very supple and flexible: this is significant for it is equivilent to a motor oil. A well-oiled engine runs better. A supple and flexible human runs better than a stiff one.

But the movement we are talking about, walking or "hustling", Strength cannot be regarded as playing such an important part. In fact, if any single attribute was to play an important part, it should be height, more than Dexterity. Being nearly two meters tall, most people find it difficult to keep up with me at a brisk walk.

All in all, while it is not terribly realistic having all humans moving at the same speed, the alternatives start falling apart when reviewed. Because you can't say someone with a 18 Dex and 150 cm (5 foot) tall is going to be a faster walker than someone who is 2.10 (7 foot) with 12 Dex.

You end up having different algorithms for different types of movement, and trying to keep track of them when people dump stuff or pick stuff up, it is a shear nighmare.

 

[Xavim]

Why not just do the best of both worlds?

STR+DEX*1.5=movement.
Every size category increases/decreases the movement by 25%
Quadrapeds get a 50% or 100% bonus to movement rates.
Dwarves have 10% less movement than normal characters.

Thus the average human moves at a speed of 30ft/round
while the hero(olympic athelete) moves at a speed of 54/round (18STR,18DEX)
I'm pretty sure that Ben Johnson can move twice my speed without much effort.
There.
Done.

The only down side is that everyone becomes a lot faster. But since this is all relative, its not much of an issue in my mind.