Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Hussar" data-source="post: 5261095" data-attributes="member: 22779">How do you define "player skill"?  After all, isn't gaming the DM a player skill?  If know that Bob adjudicates X in a certain way, as a player won't I base my decisions on that knowledge?So, how is that different from basing it on a known rule from the rule book?  If I know Bob will use a Save vs Paralysis to jump, or if I know that it's the SRD jump rules, what difference does it make to me as a player?  In either case, I maximize my chances based on out of game knowledge, or "player skill".It's just that in the case of DM setting the mechanics, I can't make that judgment in advance.  Once it's established (after the first time usually) then there is no difference.  The rule is made.It's not about what the exact number the DM sets.  It's about the fact that once the DM sets a particular number, that is the number that will always be used.  IOW, it winds up being exactly the same thing.  Instead of optimizing based on my knowledge of  the written rules, I simply optimize based on my knowledge of the DM.In both cases, I'm still optimizing my character.  Optimization is not about being better than the guy next to you.  Who cares if he fails or succeeds?  It's about maximizing your chances of success vs obstacles in the game.  I would argue that every single player of a TTRPG has engaged in this.  If you roll 3d6 in order to create your character and Dex is your highest stat, most people pick thief.  If Int is highest and you have a 6 Str, very, very few people choose Fighter.If everyone ignored optimization, and simply chose character on concept, why would people fit their class to their stats?</blockquote>

Verification