Does Auto Succeeding equal a rolled 20

[tennesay]

My dnd group is eventually going to run a boss rush. The situation being where a bout 6 level 30 characters with natural 18's in all stats go head to head with a single epic monster like orcus and upwards. The encouraged format is to be as ridiculous as possible without including any infinite combos like a bard multiclass into fighter and ranger and warlord to get infinite actions points, use those actions to beat the boss into submission in 1 turn.

My actual question has to regard the item Life Charm which states that you auto succeed death saving throws. The issue is whether or not it triggers the Raven Queen's Consort ability from the Epic Destiny that gives you a free healing surge if you roll a 20 or higher.
Thanks.

 

[chitzk0i]

Auto success means you aren't rolling any dice. Thus, you can't roll a 20 to trigger any special effects on a 20.

 

[Flipguarder]

more to the op's point. Automatically succeeding at a death-saving throw is not the same thing as rolling a 20. The feature requires that you roll a d20 and see a 20 on the dice.
That is just my humble opinion, but I know I'm right. And anyone who says otherwise either has no idea what they are talking about, or they are a manipulative bastard/witch.

 

[DracoSuave]

more to the op's point. Automatically succeeding at a death-saving throw is not the same thing as rolling a 20. The feature requires that you roll a d20 and see a 20 on the dice.
That is just my humble opinion, but I know I'm right. And anyone who says otherwise either has no idea what they are talking about, or they are a manipulative bastard/witch.

Actually, it's rolling a 20+ after all modifiers are taken into account.

But yes, the point still stands.

 

[Flipguarder]

Touché

 

[tennesay]

Yeah I kind of figured that was the case. I am still trying to find ways to increase the bonus saving throws to dying. Right now I have it up around +6 to +8. I am not entirely sure how the Epic destiny bonuses stack as it is. I think I understand how the cumulative bonuses to all defense works, I can't remember if that +2 bonus also applies to saving throws.

My current idea for the build is to use items that make me take damage or if I am getting obliterated by the numerous auras all high end boss monsters have, which by the way make melee strikers of debatable effectiveness. I mean Vecna deals 50 at the start of each opponents turn, that's huge. My plan was to hover near the point of death gaining insubstantial and using the cumulative bonuses to get my defense so high not even bosses can really hit the character.

Sure I built a swordmage capable of teleporting to attack and escape but that is another thread. That build utilizes arcane sword epic destiny, blade of the eldritch knight and as many teleport modifiers as you can find. Deals decent damage too.