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Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
The double standard for magical and mundane abilities
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<blockquote data-quote="pemerton" data-source="post: 6352511" data-attributes="member: 42582"><p>Even on its own terms I think this is a non-sequitur. Suppose it's true that there is no ingame difference between a PC and an NPC. And let's grant that resolution can only follow from things that exist within the gameworld. It doesn't follow that the mechanical systems have to be applied in order to avoid "arbitrary biases". For instance, the GM might decide what happens based on a best estimate of how the various ingame causal factors will play out.</p><p></p><p>When another participant in the game is concerned (eg a player) that person might want to replace GM judgement with a random die roll in order to have a chance of succeeding even if the GM doesn't think it's very plausible. But the NPC has no comparable real-life person with a stake, and so the same concerns about bias against another game participant don't arise.</p><p></p><p></p><p>This isn't true for OD&D: monsters can open doors without a STR check, and doors stay open for them; whereas for PCs a STR check is needed, and doors swing shut unless iron spikes are used.</p><p></p><p>This is also true in 1st ed AD&D, and from memory in Moldvay Basic as well.</p><p></p><p>In 1st ed AD&D, half-orc NPCs attack on the monster table appropriate to their HD; they don't use the class tables, even if they have levels in a class.</p><p></p><p>I'll leave it to you to decide whether or not these are "magical differences".</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="pemerton, post: 6352511, member: 42582"] Even on its own terms I think this is a non-sequitur. Suppose it's true that there is no ingame difference between a PC and an NPC. And let's grant that resolution can only follow from things that exist within the gameworld. It doesn't follow that the mechanical systems have to be applied in order to avoid "arbitrary biases". For instance, the GM might decide what happens based on a best estimate of how the various ingame causal factors will play out. When another participant in the game is concerned (eg a player) that person might want to replace GM judgement with a random die roll in order to have a chance of succeeding even if the GM doesn't think it's very plausible. But the NPC has no comparable real-life person with a stake, and so the same concerns about bias against another game participant don't arise. This isn't true for OD&D: monsters can open doors without a STR check, and doors stay open for them; whereas for PCs a STR check is needed, and doors swing shut unless iron spikes are used. This is also true in 1st ed AD&D, and from memory in Moldvay Basic as well. In 1st ed AD&D, half-orc NPCs attack on the monster table appropriate to their HD; they don't use the class tables, even if they have levels in a class. I'll leave it to you to decide whether or not these are "magical differences". [/QUOTE]
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Community
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The double standard for magical and mundane abilities
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