Reply to thread

Message

<blockquote data-quote="Hawk Diesel" data-source="post: 8126433" data-attributes="member: 59848">Sorry, but help me understand. When you look at a wolf stat block, what about it makes it inherently a wolf? What about the T-Rex or Mammoth stat blocks makes them those creatures? Aside from calling it a beast type versus a construct, why is the giant ape stat block a giant ape versus a warforged titan? A stat block is just a grouping of mechanical numbers and abilities. But we call it a wolf or a T-Rex because that is what the designers called them and we as players have agreed to accept that. But once you strip away that agreement, none of those numbers or abilities would signal to anyone &quot;Oh yea! That's a T-Rex! I could tell because its a big animal and it has a bite attack and tail attack!&quot; Sure, that fits on a T-Rex, but it also fits for any number of creatures. T-Rex's don't own a monopoly on being big animals and having a tail and a bite. And what about that bite attack of theirs actually makes it a bite? Is it that 4d12 damage? Is it that 10ft reach? Maybe the fact that it restrains or deals piercing damage? Because a really strong and thorny vine from a mystical plant monster can fit that same bill.All I'm saying is that stat blocks are stat blocks. They aren't the creatures they represent until we say they are. When it comes to creating mechanics for a system like 5e, the mechanics and game balance don't care how much they resemble or simulate the what is real or imagined. What matters is the achieved effect or impact by their existence and usage in the game, and how those mechanics relate to other mechanics. Mechanics create the foundation and boundaries for an RPG, and the rest is filled in by the imaginations of the players and DM.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Hawk Diesel, post: 8126433, member: 59848"] Sorry, but help me understand. When you look at a wolf stat block, what about it makes it inherently a wolf? What about the T-Rex or Mammoth stat blocks makes them those creatures? Aside from calling it a beast type versus a construct, why is the giant ape stat block a giant ape versus a warforged titan? A stat block is just a grouping of mechanical numbers and abilities. But we call it a wolf or a T-Rex because that is what the designers called them and we as players have agreed to accept that. But once you strip away that agreement, none of those numbers or abilities would signal to anyone "Oh yea! That's a T-Rex! I could tell because its a big animal and it has a bite attack and tail attack!" Sure, that fits on a T-Rex, but it also fits for any number of creatures. T-Rex's don't own a monopoly on being big animals and having a tail and a bite. And what about that bite attack of theirs actually makes it a bite? Is it that 4d12 damage? Is it that 10ft reach? Maybe the fact that it restrains or deals piercing damage? Because a really strong and thorny vine from a mystical plant monster can fit that same bill. All I'm saying is that stat blocks are stat blocks. They aren't the creatures they represent until we say they are. When it comes to creating mechanics for a system like 5e, the mechanics and game balance don't care how much they resemble or simulate the what is real or imagined. What matters is the achieved effect or impact by their existence and usage in the game, and how those mechanics relate to other mechanics. Mechanics create the foundation and boundaries for an RPG, and the rest is filled in by the imaginations of the players and DM. [/QUOTE]

Verification