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<blockquote data-quote="Hussar" data-source="post: 8674816" data-attributes="member: 22779">Wait, what?Your example shows EXACTLY what happens and how gravity affects the movement of something.&nbsp; In other words, at any point from the beginning of rolling that ball to the time it comes to a stop next to the heavy point you placed on that rubber sheet, at every single point in time, we know exactly where that ball is, how fast it's going, and where it will go next.&nbsp; Heck, you can, with 100% accuracy, predict exactly the path that that object will take.That in no way actually resembles how mechanics work in D&amp;D.We certainly can use lots of words to describe how mechanics work in D&amp;D.&nbsp; But, &quot;mimic the real world&quot; isn't one of them, unless you think that this sort of fuzzed out cloud of potentials is how you see the world.&nbsp; I'm tired of the redefinition of words too.&nbsp; But, I'm not the one working from a made up definition.&nbsp; Look at it simply.Character is at the base of a steep incline.&nbsp; DC 10 climb.&nbsp; Not difficult.&nbsp; Now, player declares he wants to move up the incline and rolls an Athletics check.&nbsp; No problems.&nbsp; Fair enough.&nbsp; Now, his total is 11.&nbsp; He is now at the top of the incline (presuming he has enough movement) but, at no point from bottom to top do the mechanics tell you anything about his climb.&nbsp; Did he struggle?&nbsp; Did he slip a bit and barely make it?&nbsp; Did he zoom up parkour style?&nbsp; Who knows?&nbsp; The mechanics certainly don't tell you.&nbsp; All we do know is that he started at the bottom and now he's at the top.Same as if you rolled a 9.&nbsp; Now, you're still at the bottom.&nbsp; You haven't fallen down, because you had to be at least 10 feet up to do that, but, you make no forward progress.&nbsp; Why?&nbsp; Did you slip?&nbsp; Did the ground give way a bit and you lost traction?&nbsp; Who knows?&nbsp; All we know is that at the end of the black box of probabilities, you did not make any forward progress.THAT'S NOT A SIMULATION.&nbsp; No matter how many times you pretend that it is, it isn't.&nbsp; There's nothing about that that makes that a simulation.&nbsp; It's not modeling anything.&nbsp; It's not telling us anything.&nbsp; It contains no information during the process that is being modeled.&nbsp; All it does is spit out a result at the end using voodoo magic and chicken entrails.&nbsp; This has nothing to do with &quot;academic&quot; takes or anything like that.&nbsp; This is about the plain English meaning of the word simulation.But of course, that doesn't matter.&nbsp; Simulation now only means &quot;things I like&quot;.&nbsp; <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/erm.png"&nbsp; class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":erm:" title="Erm&nbsp; &nbsp; :erm:" data-shortname=":erm:" />&nbsp; Shame really.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Hussar, post: 8674816, member: 22779"] Wait, what? Your example shows EXACTLY what happens and how gravity affects the movement of something. In other words, at any point from the beginning of rolling that ball to the time it comes to a stop next to the heavy point you placed on that rubber sheet, at every single point in time, we know exactly where that ball is, how fast it's going, and where it will go next. Heck, you can, with 100% accuracy, predict exactly the path that that object will take. That in no way actually resembles how mechanics work in D&D. We certainly can use lots of words to describe how mechanics work in D&D. But, "mimic the real world" isn't one of them, unless you think that this sort of fuzzed out cloud of potentials is how you see the world. I'm tired of the redefinition of words too. But, I'm not the one working from a made up definition. Look at it simply. Character is at the base of a steep incline. DC 10 climb. Not difficult. Now, player declares he wants to move up the incline and rolls an Athletics check. No problems. Fair enough. Now, his total is 11. He is now at the top of the incline (presuming he has enough movement) but, at no point from bottom to top do the mechanics tell you anything about his climb. Did he struggle? Did he slip a bit and barely make it? Did he zoom up parkour style? Who knows? The mechanics certainly don't tell you. All we do know is that he started at the bottom and now he's at the top. Same as if you rolled a 9. Now, you're still at the bottom. You haven't fallen down, because you had to be at least 10 feet up to do that, but, you make no forward progress. Why? Did you slip? Did the ground give way a bit and you lost traction? Who knows? All we know is that at the end of the black box of probabilities, you did not make any forward progress. THAT'S NOT A SIMULATION. No matter how many times you pretend that it is, it isn't. There's nothing about that that makes that a simulation. It's not modeling anything. It's not telling us anything. It contains no information during the process that is being modeled. All it does is spit out a result at the end using voodoo magic and chicken entrails. This has nothing to do with "academic" takes or anything like that. This is about the plain English meaning of the word simulation. But of course, that doesn't matter. Simulation now only means "things I like". :erm: Shame really. [/QUOTE]

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