D&D 5E [+] Ways to fix the caster / non-caster gap

[Raiztt]

The square cube law refers to the shape of an object and its materials, not being the literal exact same object.

1.) You're just wrong, my dude. It absolutely requires that the only thing that changes is proportion of the object. Otherwise, you're not doing a comparison of a scale up object, you're looking at two completely different objects.

2.) Materials being the operative word here. Again, I don't need to assume that a giant is made of the same materials as a human.

 

[TwoSix]

The whole thread is about how to Fix D&D 5e - the Gap between Casters and Martials. Introducing races that outpower all other races is not the solution I would go for.
And of course existing game mechanics are the baseline, unless you wanna create a whole new game from scratch.

To try and be succinct: "The solution is to give high level martials abilities that are competitive with high level casters because in a fantasy world even a "normal human" is only limited by plot, not physics."

 

[Micah Sweet]

I hate to bring it up but dragons and wizards makes it not real life and not attempting to be like at all.

That's the most meaningless statement in a TTRPG forum I have ever heard.

 

[Eric V]

I mean, maybe at your table.

At every table that uses 5e D&D rules.

 

[Laurefindel]

I hate to bring it up but dragons and wizards makes it not real life and not attempting to be like at all.

« Because dragons » is an argument neither in favour nor against human characters being relatable to humans as we know them.

 

[Neonchameleon]

The square cube law refers to the shape of an object and its materials, not being the literal exact same object. A giant is still man shaped, except for the Fat Joke Hill Giant, which is a rough sphere.

John Rogers got this one right in Blue Beetle specifically calling out the square cube ratio.
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Which might be why the goliath subraces being tested in UA fairly recently were half Goliath, half Genasi.

 

[Micah Sweet]

At every table that uses 5e D&D rules.

WotC's rules maybe. There are other worlds than these.

 

[mamba]

It's a fantasy world. Muggles can be fantastic too.

they aren’t meant to be, in D&D

 

[Raiztt]

At every table that uses 5e D&D rules.

Nah.

If you fall off a cliff at my table, even playing 5e - youre dead.
If someone shoots you point blank in the head while you're asleep or otherwise utterly helpless - you're dead.
Fall into piping hot liquid magma? Maybe not dead, but definitely disabled permanently.

Hit points only exist when I need them to exist.

 

[mamba]

I think that they define what "humanity" is within the context of their fictional universe.

Making comparisons between a fictional universe and the real one doesn't have a lot of utility.

I disagree with that too, D&D is fundamentally Earth humans in a fantastical setting, just like Game of Thrones or Star Wars (the level of fantastic varies, the humans do not)