Backing up a threat

[zlorf]

Hi,

We play that 20 is a automatic hit when it comes to Melee attacks.

When you roll to backup a threat, does a 20 automatically cause a crit, if thats the only roll that would have hit the PC's or creature AC.

ie a goblin with +2 Attack bonus fighting someone with 30 AC. Goblin rolls a 20 for a threat and then roll another 20 to back it up for a crit.

I say yes, im am the DM, but i recall one of the player in the past saying you can only backup a threat if your roll, plus Attack bonus is greater than the AC. A 20 on a threat is'nt an automatic hit.


Cheers
Zlorf

 

[0-hr]

The threat check is an "attack roll" and an attack roll automatically hits if you roll a 20.


From the SRD, under Critical Hit and Attack Roll:

When you make an attack roll and get a natural 20 (the d20 shows 20), you hit regardless of your target’s Armor Class, and you have scored a threat. The hit might be a critical hit (or "crit"). To find out if it’s a critical hit, you immediately make a critical roll—another attack roll with all the same modifiers as the attack roll you just made.

A natural 1 (the d20 comes up 1) on an attack roll is always a miss. A natural 20 (the d20 comes up 20) is always a hit.

 

[VonRichthofen]

Hi,

We play that 20 is a automatic hit when it comes to Melee attacks.

So you play by D&D rules. Congratulations. (apart from the "melee only" part, that is!)

Apart from that, a double 20 is a crit, no matter the AC. Happens once every 400 times, shouldn't be that bad.

 

[bestone]

We've always played that if you roll 2 natural 20's then confirm the crit, its an instant kill, this campaign, very first roll the dm does? instant kill! it was hilarious. Fortunately he had a fit of coughing so violent the d20 had tipped over just enough to "miss" thereby saving our friend....but it was close!

 

[Dross]

Hi,

We play that 20 is a automatic hit when it comes to Melee attacks.

When you roll to backup a threat, does a 20 automatically cause a crit, if thats the only roll that would have hit the PC's or creature AC.

ie a goblin with +2 Attack bonus fighting someone with 30 AC. Goblin rolls a 20 for a threat and then roll another 20 to back it up for a crit.

Thats the way I read the rules

I say yes, im am the DM, but i recall one of the player in the past saying you can only backup a threat if your roll, plus Attack bonus is greater than the AC. A 20 on a threat is'nt an automatic hit.

Nope, I know of know such rule.

While you can simply say "As DM this is how I see this rule working" i'd prefer to say "Could you show me where it says that in the rules, please"

 

[Legildur]

We've always played that if you roll 2 natural 20's then confirm the crit, its an instant kill, this campaign, very first roll the dm does? instant kill! it was hilarious. Fortunately he had a fit of coughing so violent the d20 had tipped over just enough to "miss" thereby saving our friend....but it was close!

Optional rule from the DMG, I believe.

 

[zlorf]

Actually we used to play the alternative rule that a 20, would give you +10 to attack and a 1 would give -10 to attack. But with all the bonuses it never seems to miss anyways.

And yes Ranged attacks as well...

So you play by D&D rules. Congratulations. (apart from the "melee only" part, that is!)

Apart from that, a double 20 is a crit, no matter the AC. Happens once every 400 times, shouldn't be that bad.