"DC 30 Strength check"

[CHC]

So reading through Sailors On The Starless Sea (amazing adventure!) I encountered a couple of eyebrow raising checks, namely the "DC 30 Strength check" for something I can't exaclty recall that takes place in the courtyard. So, surely a level 0 PC could never achieve such a feat, so I'm wondering how you guys handle this?

Is it something that is there just to be circumvented with cleverness or tools, the DC 30 just an indicator of the weight / difficulty? What system do you use for rolling ability checks.. and how do you deal with PCs working together (which is what I'm imagining for such a herculean check)?

[reverenddak]

That DC 30 strength check is meant to be "Impossible" but not impossible. But you can always use the d20 rule of assistance gives a +2, or use cumulative checks for multiple folks. Either work fine. The point is that a single person can't really do it, but they sure as heck can try.

[finarvyn]

One thing that seperates the "old school" mentality from the "new school" style is whether obsticles are there to be overcome. Back in the 1970's we never heard of game balance, and it's possible that a character might encounter something way too tough to beat and have to run away instead of fight to the end.

I suspect that this Strength check is that sort of thing. It's not really designed to be overcome, but if a group is somehow resourceful then the module provides a guideline as to how to judge it.

[CHC]

Thanks - that's kind of what I assumed and I like it!

[Aplus]

Also, if you rule that a natural 20 succeeds, there is a 5% chance, which is still better than a character with average strength's chances to "bend bars/lift gates" in AD&D.