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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Voadam" data-source="post: 9482438" data-attributes="member: 2209">I think this thief debate is generally about what happens when a class gets an ability and it is not clear whether others can or can not.If things are covered by explicit rules in both situations that is just Gygaxian space being comprehensive.In OD&D anybody can hear noise using a d6 mechanic, thieves get better at it at higher levels as a class ability. The thief ability does not take away anybody's ability to hear.In OD&D Greyhawk thieves get a pick locks and pick pockets ability and it is not clear if others get it.Before Greyhawk and thieves with the explicit ability a DM would have to resolve an attempt ad hoc, perhaps asking the player if the PC has a background as a pickpocket? Perhaps just saying "cool yes" or "of course no" or calling for a check of some kind depending on the DM and style of game and such.After Greyhawk if a non-thief attempts to pick a lock I can see a DM leaning into saying people with the mechanics to open locks are those in the game with the ability to do so, it is a specialized skill that not everyone has so the mechanics say who has the skill and who does not. There are still the pre-Greyhawk options, but I think a straight yes is much less likely next to a character with a specific mechanic for a chance. Others might say a chance, but worse than the baseline lock picking thief.For a lot of things mechanics will define things that only some can do. Casting spells defines PC magic in a lot of D&D and many DMs will then not allow spontaneous magic effects not specified by a rule (4e had a rule explicitly allowing use of the arcana skill to do some open ended vague magical effects outside of spells and rituals so that is Gygaxian again).An interesting point comes up though with thieves when they get a skill that generally everyone should have some ability at but there are no general mechanics for characters doing those things. For thieves it was climbing and hiding and moving quietly. A DM in OD&D/Basic/AD&D still has to resolve what happens when the party decides to quietly sneak past the open guard room door where the distracted guards are playing cards and not watching and most of the party does not have an explicit move silent mechanic.</blockquote>

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