Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="pemerton" data-source="post: 7519008" data-attributes="member: 42582">Actually, 4e does have a rule for everything that is not a combat challenge:(1) work out whether or not the action is possible (given considerations of genrre, tier, PC capability from the point of view of the fiction, etc); (2) if the answer to (1) is yes, then set a DC using the DC-by-level chart (this may or may not be part of a skill challenge, depending on whether or not the GM takes the view that the action being attempted is scene-worthy in itself); (3) resolve the skill check/skill challenge in accordance with the rules for such - make a check, apply adjustments for fictional advantage, power expenditure, etc (which in some cases may make success automatic), determine success/failure.This is very similar to the rule(s) of Maelstrom Storytelling, HeroWars/Quest, and Marvel Heroic RP/Cortex+ Heroic (all of which have the same sort of rule for everything). And it's not "codified" at all.Now if by everything you mean every possible combat manoeuvre then the situation is a bit different. Every character does have a list of codified abilities. But there is also a very robust set of improvisation rules.What's the DC to blow a demon through a timber wall using Thunderwave? AD&D doesn't tell me. 5e doesn't tell me. 4e does - pick the DC of the DC-by-level table and make an Arcana check.Now maybe there are crappy GMs out there (including players acting as backseat GMs) who want to block an interesting action like that. I don't see how 2nd ed AD&D makes any difference to that temperament - just as creativity is a property of the player, so is being a boring railroader - but 4e actually (i) has a section that discusses how to adjudicate these things, and (ii) has the system resources (DC-by-level and damage-by-level charts) to deliver.EDIT: Here's another take on the issue, one that's been suggested to me quite a bit in recent threads:If "action resolution" really means nothing more than the GM decides what happens, then what is the role of the player? Apparently, to make suggestions to the GM. Only the GM is actually playing the game!</blockquote>

Verification