Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2013 9:30:40 GMT
Hey, the subject of natural 20s on skill checks can up. I'm used to the rules from 3.5, which state:
"To make a skill check, roll 1d20 and add your character’s skill modifier for that skill. The skill modifier incorporates the character’s ranks in that skill and the ability modifier for that skill’s key ability, plus any other miscellaneous modifiers that may apply, including racial bonuses and armor check penalties. The higher the result, the better. Unlike with attack rolls and saving throws, a natural roll of 20 on the d20 is not an automatic success, and a natural roll of 1 is not an automatic failure."
While I can't find that same text in the pathfinder SRD, upon reading through the skill section of the book, I haven't found anything to indicate otherwise. Note that the skill section of the book is available in it's (rather short) entirety here: www.d20pfsrd.com/skills
I was thus surprised to find that a roll of a natural 20 was considered to be a roll of 40, which is usually an automatic success. Can anyone show me where this rule originates? (Google searches suggest that this is simply a common house rule). If not, I will make a proposal that the normal base rules be used, as opposed to a house rule, along with reasons why I think this should be the case (which basically boils down to it makes no sense and it makes taking 20 completely broken).
Edit: For reference the situation that came up was me trying to sneak away from a group of peasants. Their perception mod was +3, and my roll was over 25. However, the DM (correctly because precedent) ruled based on past rulings that a natural 20 counts as +40, so the two peasants that rolled natural 20s were able to spot me. If this house rule were not in effect, these peasants would not have been able to see me regardless of how high they rolled.
"To make a skill check, roll 1d20 and add your character’s skill modifier for that skill. The skill modifier incorporates the character’s ranks in that skill and the ability modifier for that skill’s key ability, plus any other miscellaneous modifiers that may apply, including racial bonuses and armor check penalties. The higher the result, the better. Unlike with attack rolls and saving throws, a natural roll of 20 on the d20 is not an automatic success, and a natural roll of 1 is not an automatic failure."
While I can't find that same text in the pathfinder SRD, upon reading through the skill section of the book, I haven't found anything to indicate otherwise. Note that the skill section of the book is available in it's (rather short) entirety here: www.d20pfsrd.com/skills
I was thus surprised to find that a roll of a natural 20 was considered to be a roll of 40, which is usually an automatic success. Can anyone show me where this rule originates? (Google searches suggest that this is simply a common house rule). If not, I will make a proposal that the normal base rules be used, as opposed to a house rule, along with reasons why I think this should be the case (which basically boils down to it makes no sense and it makes taking 20 completely broken).
Edit: For reference the situation that came up was me trying to sneak away from a group of peasants. Their perception mod was +3, and my roll was over 25. However, the DM (correctly because precedent) ruled based on past rulings that a natural 20 counts as +40, so the two peasants that rolled natural 20s were able to spot me. If this house rule were not in effect, these peasants would not have been able to see me regardless of how high they rolled.