Dexterity - Juggling

[Apoc_TGE]

Simple question with many answers depending on your view of ability scores: How many balls could some one with a dexterity of 20 juggle and how much practice would they need?

 

[Victim]

I thnk that juggling would mostly be based off practice. I might base it off the pick pocket/sleight of hand skill, since I can't think of anything better.

However, a 20 DEX person still might be able to do 3 or 4? (I've heard that 4 can be harder than 5 since it's a different kind of motion than 3 and 5 balls) balls without much practice.

 

[Grazzt]

Simple question with many answers depending on your view of ability scores: How many balls could some one with a dexterity of 20 juggle and how much practice would they need?

Juggling is listed under the Perform skill (page 71 in the PHB).

As for the number of balls a character can juggle, you can set it based on the number of actual ranks (not total skill, ranks only) the character has. Say 3 balls plus 1 ball per 2 ranks of Perform.

So, a 20th-level character with max ranks in Perform (23 ranks) could juggle 14 balls (3 [base] + 11 [23 ranks / 2 per rank]).


I believe the world's record for most juggling (balls) is like 12 or right around there.


Edit: World's Record for Juggling is 12 balls(http://www.juggling.org/records/records.html)

 

[Grazzt]

Easier way (perhaps) to handle the juggling thing.

Make a Perform check based on the number of balls you are attempting to juggle. Succeeding at the check allows you to succesfully juggle the balls for 1 minute after which time you must make another Perform check.

DC Number of Balls Attempted
10 3 balls
15 4 balls
20 5 balls
25 6
28 7
30 8
32 9
35 10
38 11
40 12

 

[Nebin]

Only problem with that is that the PC might be juggling other things then (or in addition to) balls, like daggers, plates, chainsaws (or girlfriends). So you might want to add a DC of +2 for each size catergory above the ball (diminutive ?) size.

So to juggle 5 plates (+2 size) would be DC 22
5 Short Sword (+ 4) DC 24 etc.

 

[Zhure]

-Yes, odd-number and even-number juggling are different techniques. Four is harder than five. IIRC the real world record is 12 and the guy was called "the Michael Jordan of Juggling." I can't remember his name but he had some odd aversion to cascade juggling, so he almost exclusively worked with even numbers (even though cascade/odd is easier).

Greg

 

[Apoc_TGE]

I didn't see juggling under perform when I looked there before must have missed it. I like the various ways that you guys have come up with for handling juggling. I am still deciding on a way to handle it, but ill base it off of something here.

As for juggling four being harder then five that is not true despite what alot of people think it is however easier to perfect five then four due to the patterns. I have been able to juggle four balls for some time but still have not mastered five. I can even juggle three balls with a blindfold or behind my back.

For different objects I am not sure how to increase the DC. Pins for instance are more difficult than balls or rings. Knives and torches ands very similar in difficulty to pins, except for the fear factor. Should the fear of juggling require a will save if your skill check is too low?

 

[Geron Raveneye]

For different objects I am not sure how to increase the DC. Pins for instance are more difficult than balls or rings. Knives and torches ands very similar in difficulty to pins, except for the fear factor. Should the fear of juggling require a will save if your skill check is too low?

You of course can add modifiers for unsymmetric/unbalanced objects as well as for size difference.
As for a save after a failed attempt to juggle dangerous objects..I´d say a reflex save would be better to avoid being hit by falling knives/torches/chainsaws/girlfriends?

 

[Romotre]

fear? i'd let the PC be as stupid as he pleased.

 

[EricNoah]

Sliding this over to Rules.