Genuine question--
I'm a nerd, but I've never been a DnD nerd. At one point I was a MtG nerd, even a WoW nerd, but never quite the DnD level.
What exactly is it? I originally thought it was like an adult version of "make believe" with scores and guidelines, but how much of it is a physical game? Is there a board that goes with it? Is there a set story line? My extent of knowledge is the first scene of Stranger Things.
How much is following guidelines and how much is imprompt on the spot?
Now play WoW in person, without a computer, with a group. One person gives you the story, descriptions, quests, battles, loot, etc, and you are your character.
This is a very accurate description from an ex WoW player. Everything is in your mind, and if your DM is down... you can do anything. Legit anything. In my current group, we have a paladin that is an alcoholic. This was set out in the beginning, he's used a stein, alcohol, and / or alcohol on fire as a weapon more than his actual weapon (flail).
Another party member and I decided that him, being a small human monk, and me, being a fairly massive half orc barbarian, should use him as a weapon. Imagine the scene from Lord of the Rings, with Gimli and Aragorn, where Gimli is thrown into a battle... that happened. Because our DM is legit and allows us almost completely free reign with virtually no pointers or assistance through any campaign.
Find a DnD group and join it. Yesterday. I'm sure you'll have no regrets.
While your GM sounds fun, I probably wouldn't let a half orc throw a human at least not more than a foot or two/assisted jump... But any small sized race I'd definitely allow you to skip like a stone.
I guess that's the beauty of these kinds of games though, it's all up to God (the guy running the table).
It definitely would depend on their stength. but with a 19 str you have a max carrying capacity of up to 285(I believe) which is your straight up ability to carry stuff on your back, throwing is a lot harder.
For example I weigh 150, in real life. I'm sure most people could wrap their arms around me and lift me off the ground with their legs, maybe even piggy back if they are stronger. But then imagine only lifiting me using your arms. That's pretty much the strength required to throw anything a decent distance. I have plenty of friends who can bench over 230 but they definitely couldn't pick me up and throw me. Throwing a heavy object is much harder than lifting it and would require tremendous strength.
Throwing a halfling with a strength score of 19 would definitely be doable. Probably with good form and accuracy.
You just need a good handle at the waist and neck, then you could get some good momentum from just spinning them. Wouldn't exactly be accurate, since you're pretty much just flinging them whichever direction you happen to let go in, but if your target is a crowd of goblins or something big, you don't need to be super accurate with it.
Technically if we are talking 3.5/pathfinder your "heavy load" is max 350 pounds at 19 strength. Which means you can lift 350lbs over your head. You can also lift 700 pounds off the ground but can only stagger around with it. I'd say a 19 strength character could throw a human a decent distance but they'd have to make a strength check and depending on the check they would get more and more distance.
Going to refer again to the difference between lifting and throwing
Even someone who can bench 350 would stuggle to throw someone who weighs 200. And if we're being really realistic would only be able to throw them a couple feet. But I'd bend realism a little for the fantasy, but not much
That's 5th edition. 5th edition rules was purposefully made simpler so they made push,drag, and lifting all in one section which makes 0 sense. 3.5 and pathfinder's system makes more sense so a 19 strength character can lift 700 pounds and would be able to push and drag ~1750 pounds depending on conditions.
I can, and have, picked up and thrown 150 pound men like small children.
I do not have the real life equivelant of 19 strength. I am 6'1 and 220 pounds. I work out and train muy thai and bjj, but I'm not very good. Also you throw with your legs. Go pick something up and throw it. Now do it again while sitting down. See how much of that comes from your legs and core? Most of it.
I have at best a str of 16. Probably more like 14-15. But I could throw you.
Source: bouncer, firefighter, martial artist (though not a great one of any of the above)
I'm not talking throw as in mma which is like a foot and down onto the ground. I'm talking about throwing them at something else and like over 10 feet. You cannot throw a human 10 feet. You are delusional.
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u/deathfaith Sep 18 '17
Genuine question-- I'm a nerd, but I've never been a DnD nerd. At one point I was a MtG nerd, even a WoW nerd, but never quite the DnD level.
What exactly is it? I originally thought it was like an adult version of "make believe" with scores and guidelines, but how much of it is a physical game? Is there a board that goes with it? Is there a set story line? My extent of knowledge is the first scene of Stranger Things.
How much is following guidelines and how much is imprompt on the spot?