Would you have allowed this?

[Jeff Wilder]

My necrotheurge has a 22 Intelligence. In a search for the Big Bad, in his lair, he used locate creature and got a lock. During the search, there was a long (250 feet or so) descent, at which point the locate creature leveled out.

I asked my DM if my necrotheurge could use basic trigonometry to calculate a distance to the Big Bad ... basically, triangulation.

Would you allow this? How would you handle it? Spoiler below.

Spoiler

My DM took my suggestion, which was to allow it with a difficult Intelligence check (DC 25). (I figured that, yes, the math involved is simple, but there are bound to be distractions in-game that make it much harder than it would be in an academic setting.) He allowed the dwarf (who can intuit depth) to assist with the Intelligence check (he later said he only allowed it because of the presence of the dwarf, which I think is reasonable), and I proceeded to roll a 17, just making it. We then dimension doored into the Big Bad's lair, bypassing his guardians, surprising him, and making short (and anticlimactic) work of him.

 

[The_Universe]

Probably, but it would very much depend on the general tenor of the the game session, etc. I think his limitations and expectations were reasonable, and since the DC was nigh-impossible for even a very smart person to make, well within the bonds of how it should be handled in context of the game.

Looks fine to me.

 

[Goolpsy]

Im pretty sure, noone was very math oriented at that time..

excellent idea.. jsut doesn't quite work

 

[The_Universe]

Im pretty sure, noone was very math oriented at that time..

excellent idea.. jsut doesn't quite work

At what time?

In a game that includes Dwarves and necromancers, is it really so hard to believe in trig?

 

[domino]

The ancient greeks knew about trig, even.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

The ancient greeks knew about trig, even.

Pythagorean Theorum, indeed!

 

[Aust Diamondew]

The ancient greeks knew about trig, even.

So do modern day geeks

 

[dcollins]

I asked my DM if my necrotheurge could use basic trigonometry to calculate a distance to the Big Bad ... basically, triangulation.

Interesting question. I'm pretty sure I would not allow it. When I think of ancient engineering/mathematics, my mental image is having things (string, lines) laid out on a flat surface outdoors for easy measurements. I wouldn't allow it as a guesstimation from estimated distances underground where you're not exactly sure what your direction is or what's in the way.

If someone had spent skill points on the Sword & Fist skill Knowledge (mathematics), then I would be charitable and think about letting them do that.

 

[werk]

I'd allow it depending on the character. If the character is CN evoker with all his sp in spellcasting and concentration, prolly not, if he were less chaotic and spent sp on knowledges (other than arcana), then I'd assume him to be studious and know something.

You gotta get over trying to apply medievel history to fantasy roleplaying. Or at least get over trying to make us do it.

Thanks

 

[The Souljourner]

I dunno... sure, you could make an educated guess... but how are you going to measure the angles involved? Having the dwarf was definitely necessary, since it's really hard to tell how deep you've gone on a sloping surface (though if you measure the distance and the angle, it's pretty easy... but then we're back to the question of measuring angles).

DC 25 seems pretty reasonable, given the inaccuracy of the information you have. I'd probably prefer to make it easier, like DC 20, but then inform the player that they know they're only getting an estimate, since you can't accurately measure the angles. Then I'd give them something like a 10% difference from true... probably just roll 1d20 and add that much percentage to 90% of the real distance. Dimension dooring with 10% in each direction underground is a scary proposition.

-The Souljourner