Eberron Action Points question

[Duncan Haldane]

Hi,

I recently got the Eberron Campaign Setting book, and I read the section about Action Points.

My understanding is that you can choose to spend an action point to roll a D6 to add to your d20 roll after you make a roll (but before the result is announced).

My questions - is a Natural 1 still a 1? Or can I turn a 1 into a 2+, and therefore still succeed on rolls which auto-fail on 1?

I've got my opinion on this, but looking for a rules answer.

Thanks,

Duncan

 

[Jdvn1]

A 1 turns it into a 2+. Not botch/auto-fail.

 

[UltimaGabe]

I've wondered the same thing since they talked about Action Points in Unearthed Arcana. As far as I can tell, all the Action Point is is an unnamed bonus to your roll- so a natural 1 is still a natural 1, and you can't use an Action point to give yourself a critical threat if you roll a 19.

However, in the Eberron campaigns in my group, we decided to make them a bit more special- in our games, you CAN use an action point to negate a natural 1 (making it into a natural 2-7), and if you roll an 18 with your greataxe, you can use an action point (assuming you roll a 2 or more) to get a critical threat.

It makes them considerably more powerful than I think they were intended to be, but it helps to make the PCs more heroic, in my opinion. After all, when you're in a bind, a hit is good, but wouldn't you much rather get a crit?

 

[cmanos]

RAW do not state either way. I don't have UA so couldn't cross-reference that. I would allow action points to avoid natural 1's and create critical threat situations. I think thats very much what tehy are for.

 

[Sgiò Karka]

In my opinion, the action point is a bonus like every other bonus, he don't modify the d20 but his result.

If it was the case, I think there will be too many criticals (who can radicaly change a fight : the big boss is dead in 2 rounds ! woooo !) and everybody will spend an action point when he make a 1 on a saving throw (who is the only fumble risk in D&D)...

But the rules don't precise, make your opinion and good play !

 

[KarinsDad]

Actually, Eberron does not call action points a bonus or an unnamed bonus.

It states that they "improve the D20 roll" in several places.

Since it is not called out as a bonus and it states that they improve the roll itself, it seems that you can boost a 1 into a non-automatic miss and you can boost a 17 into a threat range. Effectively, it is not a bonus. It is as if you rolled better (due to being a hero).