Realism in D&D games

[Tinker Gnome]

Okay, here is an example of realism in the D&D game I am in. My group was fighting some Lizardmen, and my Sorceror used a Ray Of Frost on one, the DM had it roll a fort. save, it failed and fell asleep. Because Lizards are cold-blooded. So, what do you think of something like this, it can be beneficial to the players, or it can be a bane on them as well. My group loves this stuff, and also thinks inter-group fighting makes things more realistic. This is a bit of a problem for me, because when I DM them, I usually do not take those things into account. My current DM seems to think that the DMG advises you to do things like this, but I can not find anything of the sort in it.

So, do you like this type of realism in your games?

 

[Desdichado]

So, do you like this type of realism in your games?

Well, first off you should address the fact that your realism isn't even remotely realistic.

 

[Henry]

Well, for one thing, Lizardmen aren't necessarily cold-blooded. Birds aren't for example, and neither were dinosaurs, most likely.

But we don't add huge doses of realism - just plausibility, and suspension of disbelief.

 

[Flyspeck23]

Okay, here is an example of realism in the D&D game I am in. My group was fighting some Lizardmen, and my Sorceror used a Ray Of Frost on one, the DM had it roll a fort. save, it failed and fell asleep. Because Lizards are cold-blooded. So, what do you think of something like this, it can be beneficial to the players, or it can be a bane on them as well. My group loves this stuff, and also thinks inter-group fighting makes things more realistic. This is a bit of a problem for me, because when I DM them, I usually do not take those things into account. My current DM seems to think that the DMG advises you to do things like this, but I can not find anything of the sort in it.

So, do you like this type of realism in your games?

No. And I don't think the ray of frost is that cold.
OTOH cone of cold might be cold enough. But don't such low temperatures freeze up mammals as well?

Three words: Can. Of. Worms.

 

[Desdichado]

No. And I don't think the ray of frost is that cold.
OTOH cone of cold might be cold enough. But don't such low temperatures freeze up mammals as well?

Three words: Can. Of. Worms.

Exactly. Cold does not make lizards become instantly narcoleptic. I'd have found it more believable if it was a dire bear, and it decided to walk away, find a the nearest cave and hibernate. :\

 

[Numion]

So, do you like this type of realism in your games?

No, not really. I don't even think thats very realistic. I do, however, want some consistency in my games. Things should happen in somewhat predictable manner. Not that suprises shouldn't happen, but that consequences should be similar in similar cases.

My group loves this stuff, and also thinks inter-group fighting makes things more realistic.

Inter-group fighting makes things realistic? Not usually. A group that has infighting is usually glued together by somekind of PC-halo effect, which is really just metagaming, not realism. You can try it for yourself. Take one of the stunts, verbal jabs or physical attacks one PC has done to another .. then try it with an NPC. It's not going to end happily for the NPC, and they surely wouldn't want to hang around with that PC. PCs take the crap from each other just because they're PCs. Not realistic.

For example, the party rogue maybe given a free pass if he steals from someone. When a known NPC does that .. the least that will happen is that he's reported to city watch, at worst he'll get capital punishment on the spot, admisnistered by the PCs.

 

[Tinker Gnome]

Well, like I said. My group is weird. They like the exact opposite of what most gaming groups like.

This is a bit of a problem when i am DMing them. Like one time when I said where an arrow hit as part of description. One of the players asked if the enemy would get penalties because the arrow hit them in a certain spot/organ. I usually just want to bang my head on a table. :\

 

[Keith]

It is an unexpected result, certainly. Those are indeed good in the game, I think. The reason a Ray of Frost unexpectedly knocks out a Lizard-whatever is not too important. An effort at realism is fine- it could just as easily be that they are susceptible to that type of magic, for reasons unrelated to logic (like every other creature quality in the game). I think the odd twist to the game is needed. You should DM the way you are comfortable, though. Advice from others is fine when you aren’t playing, but once you are, you should be allowed to be yourself. Nobody has to play with you after all- if they don’t enjoy it, they should stop. On the other point, I assume you mean PCs (and players) bickering all the time. Realistic? A group of people who expect to face death and have to depend on each other for their lives bickering over, say, a bit of money? I have always found it ludicrous, myself. Again, if you want to DM a group that has some loyalty and manners, tell them that is a role-playing aspect of theirs characters, the rest of which they can determine themselves. Sometimes a bit of guidance in that area can help people turn out better characters.

Cheers

Ps So, Numion is dead on, in my view.

 

[shilsen]

In my game:

Realism - no
Verisimilitude - yes

 

[mmadsen]

So, do you like this type of realism in your games?

That type of comic-book "realism" can be fun; I just wouldn't call it "realism". My primary concern would be that going outside the written rules like that can mean that there are no rules, that everything is up for debate. This isn't a problem if everyone trusts the DM, but you may end up with a group of players deciding to argue for little advantages like that (cold putting reptiles to sleep) left and right.