Infinitely Opening Locks and Bashing Doors

[Weeble]

According to the rules, a character can attempt to Open Locks or break a door down with a Strength check infinitely. Does this make sense? Are there limits to how many times one can do these things?

 

[ogre]

Inflicting subdual damge is one way to detere prolonged effort.
DMs call.

 

[Weeble]

ohhhh, not a bad idea! I could house rule that after the 3rd attempt, subdual damage is dealt. Say 1d3+STR mod per extra attempt?

Oh yeah, what about open locks?

 

[ogre]

hmmm, now that I think about it, all they would need to do is take 20 in the str check, unless they acquire a circumstance bonus, they won't reach a higher DC no matter how many times they try. That would apply to locks too.
On the subdual thing though, I wouldn't add the mod, as I can see a pathtic 8 str guy hurting himself just as much as a 18 str guy...if ya know what I mean. ;-)

 

[Weeble]

it all makes sense, thanks again ogre.

 

[hong]

According to the rules, a character can attempt to Open Locks or break a door down with a Strength check infinitely. Does this make sense? Are there limits to how many times one can do these things?

If you can't meet the break DC, you can't break the object, no matter how many times you try. Note that many items have break DCs in the 20s, so unless you have above-average Str, you won't be able to break them. See Table 8-15, "Object hardness and hit points" in the PHB, p.136.

 

[The_lone_gunman]

Another possibility it to make them get fatigued after doing it so many times. I would think it would get tiring throwing yourself against that door with all your might again and again.

TLG

 

[Weeble]

Re: Re: Infinitely Opening Locks and Bashing Doors

If you can't meet the break DC, you can't break the object, no matter how many times you try. Note that many items have break DCs in the 20s, so unless you have above-average Str, you won't be able to break them. See Table 8-15, "Object hardness and hit points" in the PHB, p.136.

Enlisting the aid of fellow characters helps though

 

[Gromm]

ohhhh, not a bad idea! I could house rule that after the 3rd attempt, subdual damage is dealt. Say 1d3+STR mod per extra attempt?

Oh yeah, what about open locks?

That seems pretty harsh.
The real disadvantage of taking all day smashing down a door is that everything that lives nearby will come to see what all the noise is.

As far as locks, it just takes time. Thats why they have the concepts of Taking 10 and Taking 20. Saying you can't do either of those isn't really fair to the players.

 

[Weeble]

That seems pretty harsh.
The real disadvantage of taking all day smashing down a door is that everything that lives nearby will come to see what all the noise is.

If there are any

As far as locks, it just takes time. Thats why they have the concepts of Taking 10 and Taking 20. Saying you can't do either of those isn't really fair to the players.

2 minutes if possible at all; see above posts