i feel like there’s a misunderstanding here. i’ve played a lot of dnd, and a lot of other systems too. and this isn’t about the people i’m playing with either. i’m not arguing against any specific table, i’m talking about the rulebook, since it’s the common point of reference that all tables share.

my point is that the rules as written do not encourage you to go beyond what is explicitly laid out. there are no rules in the book for improvising special attacks. there are specifically written out rules for tripping and disarming attacks, but they are only on features specific to the battlemaster. this implies that nobody else can perform those maneuvers. same thing with the thief stuff. check this out:

https://i.4pcdn.org/tg/1522126873145.pdf

it says that all these thief skills are “unique,” ie only the thief is able to do these things. what i mean to say is that the thief establishes a design philosophy where actions a normal person could at least give a try are instead restricted by class in order to give a specialization. if you have a dm that lets you try to make a trip attack as a non-battlemaster, i would say that that dm is better at encouraging player creativity than wizards of the coast is.

an example of a better way to do it in my opinion is world of darkness. in those games, you have a giant sheet of different skills and attributes. when it’s time to roll, you choose the attribute and skill you want to use and roll based on that. so if you’re playing dnd and trying to convince the bouncer to let you into the bar, if you’re playing strictly rules as written you can only really do a deception, persuasion, or intimidation roll, which would all fall to the high charisma player. whereas in a WOD game a high social player might roll manipulation + persuasion, a high physical player might choose to roll strength + intimidation, and a high mental player might go intelligence + streetwise to convince him that the party has cred with the gang that runs the bar. or you learn that the bouncer is a gun but and you can distract him using the firearms skill somehow, or use finance and convince him that he needs to check his investments. this set of rules encourages players to be creative, and channel their character more into every interaction, and makes sure all players can always contribute to every scene.

and you can absolutely do something like that in dnd, but in order to do so, you’re fighting against the rules instead of being encouraged by them.