Non-Magical D&D humans vs things in the modern world

[rmnimoc]

How would various classes and levels of non-magical D&D characters do against modern day weapons and vehicles?

[Extra Anchovies]

I don't know. Let's play some D20 Modern to find out!

Tip: Don't actually play D20 Modern, it isn't that good.

[Yahzi]

How would various classes and levels of non-magical D&D characters do against modern day weapons and vehicles?
It depends. Are hit points real or just a representation of fighting skill?

If they are fighting skill, then your high-level fighters are going to die in a hail of gunfire, because hiding from bullets is a skill they don't have.

If they are real, supernatural toughness, then your high-level fighters are going to die in a hail of automatic gunfire.

[atemu1234]

Does protection from arrows protect from bullets? Because in that case, the level three wizard reigns supreme.

[Kelb_Panthera]

It ultimately depends on how you represent the details of modern technology. If we take d20 modern as the way it works then the modern world doesn't stand a chance. Even if you don't, spellcasting puts the modern world at a -severe- disadvantage. Modern tech offerse -no- means to thwart a character capable of scrying, teleportation, and etheral travel from going wherever he wants and, with a single feat, destroying or enthralling whowever he pleases from the ethereal where they're -completely- out of reach.

So, depending on how you represent modern tech, the modern world is either completely screwed or just mostly screwed.

[Khedrac]

Does protection from arrows protect from bullets? Because in that case, the level three wizard reigns supreme.

Yes it does and no he doesn't.
Protection from Arrows gives DR 10/magic against missile fire.
Whilst early black-powder weapons may not go above 10 very often, modern automatic weapons will do so rather more often, especially as (this being D20) one attack in 400 will be a critical - and it was described as a "hail of bullets". Modern assault rifles tend to fire at about 600 rounds per minute - that would be 60 per D&D round except you are limited by magazine size. With multiple shooters the level 3 wizard will probably die in round 1 despite his spell.

Also the original post specified non-magical so your level 3 wizard cannot cast spells as he is non-magical - bad choice of class.

Personally I don't agree with the normal posts about level 20 wizards finding everything a walk-over. Does every level 20 wizard really have mind-rape and ice assassin as spells? I don't think most have even heard of them.

[Khedrac]

How would various classes and levels of non-magical D&D characters do against modern day weapons and vehicles?


It ultimately depends on how you represent the details of modern technology. If we take d20 modern as the way it works then the modern world doesn't stand a chance. Even if you don't, spellcasting puts the modern world at a -severe- disadvantage. Modern tech offerse -no- means to thwart a character capable of scrying, teleportation, and etheral travel from going wherever he wants and, with a single feat, destroying or enthralling whowever he pleases from the ethereal where they're -completely- out of reach.

So, depending on how you represent modern tech, the modern world is either completely screwed or just mostly screwed.

No - the modern world is not remotely screwed against non-magical characters.

[Extra Anchovies]

How is non-magical defined? If we have to stick to (Ex) abilities, then we probably are screwed vs. modern world. If we're allowed (Su) stuff, we can have binders and (Su) maneuvers, and that means we win (cuz summons, teleportation, etc).

[ILM]

Well, if one (of four) flaming meteors pulled straight down from the heavens deals a whopping 6d6 damage, then an H-bomb probably deals, what, 20d6? :smallbiggrin:

[Khedrac]

Well, if one (of four) flaming meteors pulled straight down from the heavens deals a whopping 6d6 damage, then an H-bomb probably deals, what, 20d6? :smallbiggrin:

On the contrary - you can work out how much damage it does from what it does to objects (as we can work out the hp/hardness) - so the H bomb is doing thousands or millions of points of damage - might even be close to a "mailman".

Now there's a thought - the D&D character hears that there are thousands of mailmen serving the public through-out the country and runs away very fast indeed...

[Kelb_Panthera]

No - the modern world is not remotely screwed against non-magical characters.

Sorry. Just got off work and somehow missed that.

Still, it's much tighter than one might expect if you're using d20 modern as your model for modern tech. If the OP's intent was to eliminate only spellcasting and not all supernatural effects then we're right back to modern world side being screwed. Spells aren't the only way to accomplish those effects to which the modern world has no answer.

[Firest Kathon]

Now there's a thought - the D&D character hears that there are thousands of mailmen serving the public through-out the country and runs away very fast indeed...
YMMD! Stupid 10-character limit...

[Seto]

Actually, if Snatch Arrows lets you catch bullets, and the characters are non-magical so they're not expected to have such things as flight, or magic weapons... the Monk kinda rocks :smallcool: (especially if he's VOP. In a world with no magic items, inherent boni are priceless).

It's pretty much D&D upside down.

[Xerlith]

Well, a Psion would make it rain blood.


...what? It's non-magical. :smallbiggrin:

[Elricaltovilla]

Well, a Psion would make it rain blood.


...what? It's non-magical. :smallbiggrin:

Only if you're not playing with the standard Psionics/magic transparency.

[Blackhawk748]

Im just imagining a Rogue dodging a Predator strike:

Drone operator: "Hit is confirmed on the target sir, clean kill........Wait, what??? Sir the target is still alive and he hasnt even moved!!!!"

Rogue flashes his best smile at the Drone.

Also anything past level 6 is probably gonna out damage a gun. Honestly they do like 3d10 at most and i believe im remembering a .50 cal. So a Dungeoncrasher Fighter, an Ubercharger Barbarian, a Daring Outlaw and a Swift Hunter are gonna hit us HARD. Hell when the Rogue and the Ranger get HiPS this gets worse. How do we track them when they are hiding in a theoretically impossible location?

Edit: I just realized that the Swift Hunter gets even worse if he figures out how to use a Rifle, because im pretty sure he can apply his precision damage even farther now, cuz you know, he can see even farther now.

[Psyren]

I dunno - a Barbarian 20 with all Ex abilities (nonmagical) would still be a superhero by our standards. We're talking about a guy who could jump out of a plane or walk out of a volcano.

Also, what about dwarves? We have dwarves I think.

[Blackhawk748]

I dunno - a Barbarian 20 with all Ex abilities (nonmagical) would still be a superhero by our standards. We're talking about a guy who could jump out of a plane or walk out of a volcano.

How about a 20th level Fighter? Hes right up there with Barbar but with more Ex abilites (read:Feats) Hell even if he went Weapon Spec all the way to Weapon Supremacy hed be horrifying. I mean he can smash through a concrete wall in 6 seconds (read: 1 round) Both of them would have maxed out Str scores so they pick up small vehicles. If they took Jotunbrub (IIRC) they can qualify for Warhulk into Hulking Hurler, now we have an actual honest to god Hulk running around. Oh god im scared.

[Kelb_Panthera]

How about a 20th level Fighter? Hes right up there with Barbar but with more Ex abilites (read:Feats) Hell even if he went Weapon Spec all the way to Weapon Supremacy hed be horrifying. I mean he can smash through a concrete wall in 6 seconds (read: 1 round) Both of them would have maxed out Str scores so they pick up small vehicles. If they took Jotunbrub (IIRC) they can qualify for Warhulk into Hulking Hurler, now we have an actual honest to god Hulk running around. Oh god im scared.

To be fair, a barbarian 20 in the throes of his rage could lift an economy sedan over his head and hurl it 50ft, assuming he starts with the elite array, with no magical gear or buffs at all. A fighter 20 built roughly the same would only be able to throw a dirt-bike like that.

[Blackhawk748]

To be fair, a barbarian 20 in the throes of his rage could lift an economy sedan over his head and hurl it 50ft, assuming he starts with the elite array, with no magical gear or buffs at all. A fighter 20 built roughly the same would only be able to throw a dirt-bike like that.

Very true, either way i want to be nowhere near either of them when they go into battle.