D&D 5E (2014) Rolling a 20 always hits

[BryonD]

Does this matter?

I mean, if your target is AC19 and your attack has a -2, then ok. But doesn't it almost always hit anyway now?

 

[Nergal Pendragon]

Sometimes it does.

DM: "Really? You want to cut off the dewclaw of a great red wyrm that is flying two hundred feat in the sky? Better roll..."

Player: *rolls a natural 20*

DM: "..."

 

[Boarstorm]

Most of the time it won't matter, but it's probably best to spell it out just to avoid the question if any corner cases arise.

 

[Gilwen]

A natural 20 is always a hit regardless of the modifiers or the target's AC(page 73). As is a natural 1 always a miss regardless of modifiers or the target's AC.

This does give characters a chance to succeed at hitting something that they may not be able to mechanically hit otherwise....how they got in that situation is going to be a good story

 

[Boarstorm]

This does give characters a chance to succeed at hitting something that they may not be able to mechanically hit otherwise....how they got in that situation is going to be a good story

"My first level wizard punches the pit fiend (who is behind 3/4 cover and who cast Shield earlier in the turn)!"

 

[Tormyr]

Sometimes the dice tell the best story in the form of 20s and 1s.

We were investigating some kidnappings and followed a ransom note to a blind beggar. After paying him 2pp, he gave us a note and released a small homing pigeon. The note said to follow the bird. As I read the note aloud I finished by saying, "Follow the pigeon." Our half-orc decided the pigeon was going to warn the kidnappers and needed to be killed. Our DM said he needed to roll a 20. We all tried to use strength checks to stop him, and he threw us all to the side and rolled a 20 to hit the bird.

Then we had to figure out where the kidnappers were some other way. Another player rolled a 20 and found a street urchin who knew where the kidnappers were. On our way over, the half-orc used a torch to cook his pigeon on a stick.

When we got to the kidnappers area, the half-orc decided to rush the kidnappers. We tried to stop him again to come up with a better strategy with a better chance of saving the victim. He beats everyone again except the last person who rolls a 20 and sticks his shield out and connects with the half-orc's head as he runs by to stop him. We decide to come around front and send the monk in the back. While we discuss terms with the kidnappers, the monk rolls a 20 to silently open the back window, and spirit the kid to safety while everyone is distracted. Then we attacked with everyone and finished the kidnappers off.

Yes those were not all attack rolls, but when the d20 gives you a 1 or 20, roll with it and tell the story.

 

[fba827]

"My first level wizard punches the pit fiend (who is behind 3/4 cover and who cast Shield earlier in the turn)!"

Sounds like a lucky hit! Or unlucky if you consider how angry the pit fiend will be now .....

 

[Tormyr]

Sounds like a lucky hit! Or unlucky if you consider how angry the pit fiend will be now .....

The pit fiend punches the wizard and rolls a 20 to hit!

 

[doctorhook]

I always liked that variant from the 3.5E DMG: Consider natural 1s as a roll of -10, and natural 20s as a roll of 30. (Critical hit rules are otherwise unchanged.) In 3E, this meant things would be slightly less random, as 1st-level enemies who rolled 20s would possibly still not hit 20th level characters. (A corner case situation, certainly.) In 5E, bounded accuracy may have made this entirely moot anyway.

The pit fiend punches the wizard and rolls a 20 to hit!

"Did I forget to mention I'm a great wyrm gold dragon wizard 1?"

 

[The Crimson Binome]

Does this matter?

I mean, if your target is AC19 and your attack has a -2, then ok. But doesn't it almost always hit anyway now?

The most likely scenario is that a PC has worked up an AC 25 somehow, and the local +4 goblins are trying to swarm. One thing about the Advantage system is that it doesn't allow you to succeed at any task you would not have been able to succeed at anyway.