Houserule - Reroll instead of bonus

[Szatany]

I have an idea for a houserule but I want your input first.
Under this rule magic items that grant bonuses to skill checks would instead allow to re-roll natural rolls equal to their bonus.
For example, a Nature +2 item would not grant +2 to Nature, but instead allow to re-roll any Nature check if you roll a natural 1 or 2.

Maybe this could be extended to attack and defenses bonuses but I have no idea how.

The rationale behind this idea is that magic items should be something more special than bland bonuses. Re-rolling is fairly unique among player abilities, bonuses are plentiful. I'm mainly trying to change flavor, possibly not altering result averages if possible.

 

[eloquentaction]

I have an idea for a houserule but I want your input first.
Under this rule magic items that grant bonuses to skill checks would instead allow to re-roll natural rolls equal to their bonus.
For example, a Nature +2 item would not grant +2 to Nature, but instead allow to re-roll any Nature check if you roll a natural 1 or 2.

Maybe this could be extended to attack and defenses bonuses but I have no idea how.

The rationale behind this idea is that magic items should be something more special than bland bonuses. Re-rolling is fairly unique among player abilities, bonuses are plentiful. I'm mainly trying to change flavor, possibly not altering result averages if possible.

Hmmmm....

Let's see. +2 to a D20 roll means you roll a 3 to 22. Min 3, Max 22, average: 12.5.

Re-roll 1-2. Min 3, Max 20, average: 11.5.

No thanks, I'll take the +2 to the roll anyday.

-- Hirahito

 

[Szatany]

As someone pointed out in another thread, this house rule is a bad idea because of the number of possible re-rolls with high bonuses. Back to workshop.

 

[StAlda]

There is no average on the single roll, so 12.5 means nothing. There is though with a reroll.

 

[Syrsuro]

There is no average on the single roll, so 12.5 means nothing. There is though with a reroll.

???

I'm not sure what you mean by this.

Carl

 

[keterys]

Given that I really dislike the idea of bonus to skill items anyways, I'd definitely be up for a replacement. Why not just 1/enc reroll or set things to a minimum kinda like that Wood Elf Agility power.

So, a +2 to a skill might say that if you roll between a 2 and 4, it counts as a 5. Or just flat out set the minimum to 3 or 4.

 

[MarauderX]

The use of bonuses allows the characters to have a better chance of getting to the DCs that are recommended with the game design. Changing this would be a change in the foundation of how DCs are set.

 

[the Jester]

One of 4e's explicit goals is to speed up play. More rerolls slow it down.

Not for me, thanks.

 

[keterys]

The use of bonuses allows the characters to have a better chance of getting to the DCs that are recommended with the game design. Changing this would be a change in the foundation of how DCs are set.

Those DCs are likely not factoring in a bonus from items as most characters won't have them - at higher levels, in fact, the bonus from an item (if you have it) probably makes you automake most or all skill checks.

Certainly the new skill challenge numbers break under adding a +5 or +6 further, anyways.