D&D 5E Questioning Nat 20's: Opposing Skills Checks.

[Weiley31]

So while DMing a session last night, there was a situation where the Ranger pc attempted to intimidated a Knight npc. So an Intimidation roll vs a Wisdom check, IIRC. The Knight npc has Advantage due to being Brave and rolled a Nat 20 on the roll to oppose the Ranger. The Ranger, though, was two points ABOVE the Nat 20 result after his roll+CHA modifier. I ruled that because it was a Nat 20, and an astounding success on the Knight's part, he wasn't intimidated by the Ranger. My buddy, who played the Ranger, took it in good stride and understood that a Nat 20 is the apex number when rolling, did mention "Even though I was two points above said 20?"

Fast Forward to today while I'm at home, I'm now wondering if I made a mistake on my part. I'm trying to become a better DM and I supposed that I am gonna be making mistakes. (On the plus side, my buddy's Ranger was able to score the Killing Blow on a Warg boss, after it had reduced him from 40 HP down to 20 hp after missing him for most of the battle, by rolling a Nat 20 and killing it. (So Dice Karma came around and gave me the comeuppance I would say. Plus the Warg boss, despite having Pack Advantage before getting Disadvantage later thnx to fire.)

But now I'm still wondering if I made the wrong judgement call, as a DM, earlier with the Intimidation vs the Opposed Wisdom check. Now I did have it where the Knight wasn't intimidated by the ranger pc, but gave him a slight nod of "respect/appreciation" by recognizing the ranger's skills. Which wouldn't have happened at all if the rolls turned out different and if the ranger rolled SUPER low.

 

[iserith]

A natural 20 on an ability check or saving throw means nothing in particular per the rules. It's only on attack rolls where a 20 is a critical hit/success, though arguably the same is true for death saves (in a sense).

 

[el-remmen]

To me a Nat 20 on a skill check is just another number, and unlike an attack roll or saving throw, not an auto-hit/crit - thus, when it comes to opposed rolls the higher total number wins, nat 20 or not.

 

[el-remmen]

A natural 20 on an ability check or saving throw means nothing in particular per the rules. It's only on attack rolls where a 20 is a critical hit/success, though arguably the same is true for death saves (in a sense).

Huh. Is my playing that a nat 20 on a save is an auto-success a vestige of a previous edition then? (Not that I plan to change that).

 

[iserith]

Huh. Is my playing that a nat 20 on a save is an auto-success a vestige of a previous edition then? (Not that I plan to change that).

It is.

 

[Weiley31]

Hmmm, maybe my mind was thinking of the older editions when I made that judgement call.

 

[prabe]

For what it's worth (and it might not be much) I don't think either a one-time judgment call or a standing houserule is going to damage the game, though they should both (and I presume are/will be) communicated as such to the players.

 

[Weiley31]

For what it's worth (and it might not be much) I don't think either a one-time judgment call or a standing houserule is going to damage the game, though they should both (and I presume are/will be) communicated as such to the players.

True. And yeah the next time we have another session I'll will probably address it. The more I keep on thinking about it, I am personally feeling that perhaps I did judge it the wrong way. So now I have to come up with something to make up for that. which I did for the other player, a Warlock, who I had accidently forgotten to show him the Cleric cantrips list when he chose the Tome of Shadows pact boon during character creation.

 

[Stalker0]

Fast Forward to today while I'm at home, I'm now wondering if I made a mistake on my part. I'm trying to become a better DM and I supposed that I am gonna be making mistakes.

So just noting.... while you are mechanically incorrect, you weren't wrong.

DMs are going to make judgement calls, that's part of the game. You will do the best you can, and as long as your rulings have a reasonable basis your doing fine. No issue with double checking on the forums after the fact and changing your mind for future work, but never beat yourself up about those judgement calls!

 

[el-remmen]

In your shoes I'd own up to the mistake, clarify the rule for the future, but also give that player their next nat 20 skill roll a spectacular success to make it up to them.