From: boelter3945@iscsvax.uni.edu
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: Why are their level limits?
Date: 27 Aug 92 13:05:00 -0500
Distribution: na
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

   On the subject of class/race/whatever restrictions, how about looking at it
from the perspective of role-playing, rather than game balance (true, you can't
escape it, game balance will always be there, but look at it from another
perspective).

In article <67012@hydra.gatech.EDU>, ccoprdj@prism.gatech.EDU (Jorge Diaz)
  writes:
> In article <1992Aug27.133909.18679@ncsu.edu> mrmarcel@eos.ncsu.edu (MICHAEL
>   RONN MARCELAIS) writes:
>>"given time"  Mages don't have the time.  They spend almost all of their 
>>training learning magic, not learning weapons or armour.  The only weapons
>>that are usable are weapons that don't take a lot of skill like darts.
> 
> Our party spends a lot of time on the road, between one town and another.
> Since a lot of that time is spent walking, a mage could get to learn
> how to move around in armor just by walking to wherever he was going
> to walk to anyway.  There's no extra time required, and I don't think they
> spend all the time on the road learning that one first level spell.

   Walking around, yes.  Actually using the armor effectively in combat, moving
and dodging and such, is a different matter.  Besides, a mage who uses armor is
expressing to others that he lacks faith in what he does best, his spells. 
True, not everyone will have Armor or Shield spells, but that's why you go
adventuring.. to find those spells.

> You're missing the point.  If *I* wanted to, I could learn to pick
> locks.  I wouldn't need any gauntlets of dexterity to do it, I could
> learn how to do it.  Why can't my cleric/mage?  Why can't a fighter?

   Because those professions are not ones to stoop to the levels of common
theives to gain what they need.  Mages have spells (Knock, yes, I know, 2nd
level, but it still is there.. research a 1st level spell called Minor Knock
which only opens one thing rather than two like the Knock spell).  Fighters can
use their strength for those locks (*crash* What lock?) and clerics?.. why
should they resort to thievery?  Bad example for the clerics, I know, but it
also depends on their deity.

> Other people could learn to specialize.  A thief gets three weapon
> proficiencies at first level, and more later on.  Instead of learning
> to use three different weapons, why not use all three slots to become
> an expert in *one* weapon?

   Other people are too busy with what they do better to specialize.  A thief,
for example, is usually too busy training and improving and furthering his
thievery skills (of which there are a lot to work on!).

> Most goods[sic] do not allow bladed weapons.

   From what I've glanced through in the Priest's supplement, most deitys do
allow bladed weapons of some sort (depending on the deity).

> I still think they're totally ridiculous. :-)

   True, some are, but it still depends on your perspective and how you
role-play them.  Create a personality for that Fighter as to why he feels there
are better ways than bending over and taking 5 to 10 minutes to pick a stupid
lock when you could just break it and be done with it.

   All flames cheerfully deleted.  And this is just my opinion on the matter. 
Whatever you decide, just make sure the game is fun for all! :-)

                                        John "Nightwind" Boelter

--
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* John Boelter        a.k.a. Nightwind            boelter3945@iscsvax.uni.edu *
* Organizational Manager and contact person for everything and then some.     *
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* The individual who said we only use 10%  * "I hit it with my Sword+10 of    *
* of our brain's mental capacity, was      *  Super Slaying" - "It laughs" -  *
* probably 90% incorrect.                  * "I give the DM the rest of my    *
*            -Unknown comic on A&E-        *  pizza" - *munch* "It dies"      *
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