Incantatar wrote:I agree and will handle it the same.
But i would not "generally recommend" not letting players try other-class abilities. Everybody should be able to try to climb, move silently and listen. Why shouldn't a wizard be able to decipher writings as a bard (with class lvl)? Most other class abilities are really obvious tied to a class and should be generally forbidden to other classes.
I don't think there's anything wrong with this logic, as long as you explain that there's some reasoning behind your decisions. I say that because I see you example of a wizard deciphering script. I don't think there's anything wrong with that. But would you let the party's barbarian try that? If not, why? If not him, then who? I bring this up because I would expect other players at my table to have these same questions. Maybe you didn't mean your example that way, but I interpreted it as you'd let some classes try certain class abilities of other classes if it made sense. In your example, I'd let "learned" characters (wizard, maybe illusionist, cleric, possibly a rogue, for example) try.
And this then begs the question why a fighter adds his class levels when he swims or pushes a statue but doesn't when he climbs. I have to tell the player "Well, because a rogue climbs but no other class swims and pushes statues." The player new to C&C is probably a bit baffled with this reasoning - rightly so imo.
This is what I was referring to in my first post. You have to use sound judgement and sometimes you add your level and sometimes you don't. For basic stuff, it's okay to "just allow" it. Climbing up a knotted rope? Sure, knock yourself out. Getting up that tree or vine wall? Make a roll. Now if you want to add level for that, that's up to you - I wouldn't. Climbing up the wall of the palace. Rogue only. I rationalize it so - the fighter spent his time training how to use weapons and armor effectively, and how hone his skill in battle. The rogue spent his time practicing on old locks and sneaking aroud the back alleys.
And climbing walls. These are his specialties. He should be better at it than the fighter. To reflect this, in game, he gets to add his level. I know that might seem unfair, but it seems you might be looking at from the fighter's side of it instead of looking at the rogue's side of the situation. Maybe you're not, I don't intend to assume. Just trying to enlighten a little.
