Grapple check, and tied!

[Pielorinho]

Not at the moment, though I will go and look. I do know however that the quote you cited Pielorinho refers to opposed skill checks, according to the PHB. Grapple checks are a different animal.

Let me get back to you and I'll see what I can find (if anything )

Cheers!

No problem -- and I know they're different kinds of checks. But I can't find anything else in the SRD explaining how to resolve opposed checks of any types. Although the bolded text above appears in a paragraph about skill checks, the sentence itself doesn't mention skill checks -- it simply refers to ties on opposed checks.

I also find this way of resolving it to be intuitively correct: if two opponents are wrestling, and they come to an impasse, the one that's slightly beefier is likelier to win.

Daniel

 

[shilsen]

According to the FAQ, Dash is correct. The question is about natural 1 and 20 in a grapple, but note the sections in bold:

Q: When rolling opposed attack rolls (such as in a grapple or a disarm attempt), does a natural 1 mean automatic failure as it does for a normal attack roll?

A: For the attacker (that is, the character trying to disarm a foe or accomplish something with a grapple check) a natural 1 fails and a natural 20 succeeds, no matter what the defender rolls. Although the defender’s roll is called an “opposed attack roll,” the defender is really just setting the DC for the attacker: 1s and 20s aren’t special for the defender. Just apply the defender’s modifiers to set the DC for the attacker. If both the attacker and the defender roll a 1, the attacker fails. If both the attacker and the defender roll a 20, the attacker succeeds. Note that you cannot get a hold on a foe two or more sizes larger than you (see page 137 in the Player’s Handbook).

All of the foregoing assumes that you are indeed making an opposed attack roll, which is subject to automatic success or failure. Checks are not subject to automatic success or failure. For example, if you are making an opposed check (as you would when making a Hide check opposed by a foe’s Spot check), a roll of 1 or 20 has no special significance.

 

[Hypersmurf]

This also implies that True Strike does affect OGCs, since it confirms that an OGC is an attack roll.

-Hyp.

 

[Pielorinho]

According to the FAQ, Dash is correct. The question is about natural 1 and 20 in a grapple, but note the sections in bold:

Interesting. IMO, this is beyond the FAQ's reach, since it's setting up new rules, but I'll accept it as the official word.

Thanks, and my apologies to Dash for doubting him!

Daniel