Doors: Too hard to break, too easy to chop

Grog · Oct 10, 2002

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 · Oct 10, 2002

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 · Oct 10, 2002

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 · Oct 10, 2002

Destil said:
Two words: Take 20.

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

MerakSpielman · Oct 10, 2002

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 · Oct 10, 2002

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.