Should cool be a mechanic?

[DJCupboard]

...For example - to avoid the AoO you "backflip over his head". If you're talking about a humanoid critter, that implies a 6'+ standing jump, right? And if you haven't taken the ranks in Jump, and the DM says you have a low wall to clear, suddenly what you may have described doing multiple times ('cause you've got style!) that should apply here you can't do when you want to...

Except that walls don't reflexively duck to avoid being clipped in the face by their opponent's heel.

There are plenty of ways to rationalize why flavor cool doesn't justify extraordinary game abilities.

 

[DungeonMaester]

Exactly. My roommate and I are Flavor Lawyers Dms.

In his campaign I am playing a swashbuckling Rogue. I wanted to stab the bad guy in the heart with my long sword.

DM: ok, roll to hit
Me: Rolls a 18 and adds 6.
DM: Alright...You hit him roll for damage
Me: Rolls a 13 total for damage
DM: he falls back graping his chest in pain and blood squirts from his between his fingers. He says "You'll pay for this!" and runs off.

If I had tried that in any one else campiagn, I would be in a flame war.

Its all about adding the proper flavor to the proper roll. The monk who makes a 23 jump check over a five foot wall does a backflip. Not monks do backflips so they should be able to clear a five foot wall. Its a balance that seemes to be lost in 3.5 from older eds.

---Rusty