Doors: Too hard to break, too easy to chop

[Grog]

Doesn't taking 20 take about two minutes or so? It'd be much quicker to simply chop through the door, which, as Psi said, you could do in one round with power attack.

Maybe the designers only meant for doors to be obstacles if the PCs are weaponless?

 

[0-hr]

Keep in mind that someone can assist for a +2 on the check as well. Even with just the party wimp helping, the big bad barbarian only needs a 16 STR to break down a locked wooden door.

 

[aliensex]

Also remember that in your example, that is for a STRONG wooden door that is stuck or LOCKED! Any common house door that is locked is quite hard to bash down. That is why police will have a battering ram when doing a raid. Even that usually takes a couple of swings!

 

[Al]

Two words: Take 20.

You can't take 20 on ability checks, only skill checks.

 

[MerakSpielman]

Here's a question:

Honestly, what's the difference between trying to break it down and attacking it with a weapon? Breaking it is just attacking it unarmed, right? Maybe with a bit of a running start?

 

[hammymchamham]

I think this is why is was done. If your trying to bash down a door or chop it, the enemy on the other side will know you are their. If you bash it down (one round) then you could get a surprise round. But if you are hacking it, the enemy on the other side knows someone is comming (and could cast a few buff spells).

Since a surprise round can be benificial to the PCs, the DC to bash it is high, where as hacking it is easier.

 

[0-hr]

You can't take 20 on ability checks, only skill checks.

But you could roll once per round until you eventually got a 20? That ain't right...

 

[hong]

You can't take 20 on ability checks, only skill checks.

PHB p.62: "The normal take 20 rules apply to all ability checks."

 

[sineater]

Just find a Barbarian that has destructive rage. It will had a +8 to a strength check on breaking down doors.

 

[Al]

PHB p.62: "The normal take 20 rules apply to all ability checks."

Quite right. I learn something new every day.