Would you have allowed this?

[helium3]

And yet the ancient architects/engineers were able to lay straight lines and build structures accurate enough to be used even as astronomical tools. So somehow they were able to determine distances and angles with a high degree of accuracy...

Well, we don't know what methods they used to accomplish their engineering feats, though we are beginning to figure that out. We do know, however, that it took them exceedingly long periods of time to accomplish said feats. So, the high level of accuracy is probably a result of both tricksy engineering techniques and just working very very very slowly.

 

[helium3]

It is when you have the Intelligence of a god.

Firstly, twenty two is hardly god-like intelligence by D&D standards. Secondly, this is one of those areas where I probably would have insisted that some role-playing reason be given for why it is that your character happened to have memorized the trig tables. I probably wouldn't require that it have been done ahead of time, but I would want something a bit more coherent than, "I'm a wizard and am smart." But again, having ranks in engineering helps with that to an extent, since it's very easy to explain why you would have done such a thing.

 

[Jack Simth]

In his case, he had at least six ranks in almost every listed knowledge skill. Sounds like someone who tries very hard to memorize everything he runs across...

 

[IronWolf]

I would probably allowed a check, and if made, I would have told you what your character thought was an accurate solution.

I would NOT have told you what the exact DC was, so that you would have an element of doubt for your dimension door. The DM saying "you're pretty sure he's 350 feet away at a 30 degree angle up," is a lot different in the players mind than "make a DC 25 Int check and I'll let you do it."

I think I like this compromise. You get the chance, but you aren't really sure whether you figured the math correctly or not or if the measurements were really accurate. Leaves a little more mystery to it anyways...

 

[Storyteller01]

That's because there's no such skill.

My necrotheurge (the character in question) has at least 6 ranks in every RAW Knowledge skill except (nature) and (dungeoneering). If he can build a bridge (architecture and engineering), he can measure angles and knows trigonometry.

(I disagree that it was metagaming, BTW. I have a very high IQ, and a very good education, and my PC is both smarter and better educated than I am.)

Oh, and for those who were wondering, the 250 foot drop was a shaft, straight down. That's why I figgered it was at least possible to do the calculations on the fly.

You can make any knowledge skill. Doesn't HAVE to be in the book to be available (believe that was mentioned in 3.0).

I'd have allowed the triangulation, but not nessecarily the dimension door. BIG problem with walking into a situation blind...

 

[Storyteller01]

In his case, he had at least six ranks in almost every listed knowledge skill. Sounds like someone who tries very hard to memorize everything he runs across...

Wasn't it Einstein who said he had books so he wouldn't have to memorize everything?

 

[Jack Simth]

I doubt that Einstien spent the time to study such varied things as Architecture, Geography, History, Local, and Nobility. Granted, he probably had fairly high ranks in Knoweledge (Arcana) and Knoweledge (The Planes), but as far as I'm aware, he was a specialist.

 

[3d6]

It is when you have the Intelligence of a god.

The average Intelligence of a D&D god is 31.6. 22 isn't even close.

 

[RandomPrecision]

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

excellent idea.. jsut doesn't quite work

I don't remember which ancient Greek guy found the circumference of the Earth within a few hundred feet, but that's pretty good for ~2500 years ago...

 

[Silveras]

No, we simply figured that if the wizard made the incredibly difficult Intelligence check, he calculated correctly. (Even with a +8, I needed to roll a 17. Which I did.)

As I think on it, it might have been better to make the DC lower (the math really is pretty basic), but make the roll in secret. Miss by more than 5, and the PC has successfully solved for "Ouch."

That's not quite what I was getting at. Given that the measurement was based on the Dwarf's sense of depth ("approximate depth" as given in the PH), and that (it seems) you did not know the layout of the room you were traveling to, I would have allowed the attempt, but the consequences would not be pretty. Guessing the distance is one thing; finding an open space "that" far away to transfer into, without actually seeing the destination, is asking the DM to roll on "the Wandering Damage Table" IMHO.

Incredible roll, EXACT positioning: Using that number, you try to land ON him. That's not allowed, and you all take damage. Being smart, you adjust by 5 feet in one direction or another. The DM consults the map; you either get lucky and pick a clear spot, or you pick a spot that is not clear. The result is still damage.

Average roll, APPROXIMATE positioning: If it is a small room, you are virtually guaranteed NOT to land in an open space. You all take damage.

Poor roll, BADLY OFF positioning: If there is a lot of solid earth/rock between you and the destination, and beyond it, again, you are virtually guaranteed to be landing INSIDE some of it. You all take damage. If not, that's why the DM has maps; arriving in mid-air over a large cavern is another possibility -- and you cannot act until your next turn, so no feather fall that round.

Note: The "Wandering Damage Table" was a joke reference in Dragon magazine many years ago, in an April Fool's column describing Killer DMs.