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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Menexenus" data-source="post: 2889400" data-attributes="member: 8951">Earlier today, I started a thread about Taking 20 in which I learned a lot in a very short amount of time.  (Thanks to those who helped me understand how it works.)  In particular, I learned that you can't Take 20 to disarm a trap without setting it off.  And the reason why is because Taking 20 represents trying again and again until you get the best result possible (but before you get that optimal result you will get some sub-optimal results).Previously, I had always thought that Taking 20 meant taking your time and being careful, but apparently that is wrong.  Is there any mechanism in D&D that represents, taking your time and being careful in order to produce an above average result?Taking 10 is a *quick* way to guarantee an *average* result when you are not in combat.  That's not what I'm looking for.  I'm looking for some way for characters to take their time, be careful, and try to make their first attempt their *best* attempt (or at least better than average).  Think of someone trying to disarm a bomb in a d20 Modern campaign.  Or think of Indianna Jones trying to trade out the bag of sand for the golden idol at the beginning of Raiders of the Lost Ark.  He knows he will only get one shot at it.  So he takes his time considering the best way to achieve his goal.  He dumps out a little bit of excess sand, and then carefully tries to make the switch.  Of course, Indy fails in this particular case, but I hope you get the point.  It seems like there ought to be a way in D&D for a player to say that I am taking my time and being careful so that my first attempt is as good as it can be.If there is no way to do this within the rules, what sorts of house rules have people used to accommodate a situation like this?  Thanks in advance.</blockquote>

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