Just what does 'natural 20 = instant success' encompass? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Just what does 'natural 20 = instant success' encompass? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Lord_Psathus
02-10-08, 09:30 AM Hello everyone, it has recently occured to me that natural 20s on skill checks are not automatic successes, they are simply a high roll. Natural 20s on attacks, however, are instant success and possibly a critical hit.

Are attacks the only things the 'Natural 20' encompasses as an instant success? Are there others? Is there a list of things that natural 20 allows you to surpass?

Thank you,

Lord_Psathus
dawnbringer
02-10-08, 09:37 AM saves
StevenO
02-10-08, 02:56 PM Natural 20 on d20 means:
Automatic hit with an attack which usually threatens (but doesn't grant) a critical hit.
Automatically make a Saving throw.
Activates some specific abilities.

A Natural 20 does NOT:
Guarentee a skill/ability check succeeds.
Automatically overcome SR on with the caster level check.
Automatically Turn Undead.
Basically a natural 20 doesn't do anything special (except add 20 to whatever your checking) outside of Attack Rolls or Saving Throws.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Lord_Psathus 02-10-08, 09:30 AM	Hello everyone, it has recently occured to me that natural 20s on skill checks are not automatic successes, they are simply a high roll. Natural 20s on attacks, however, are instant success and possibly a critical hit. Are attacks the only things the 'Natural 20' encompasses as an instant success? Are there others? Is there a list of things that natural 20 allows you to surpass? Thank you, Lord_Psathus
dawnbringer 02-10-08, 09:37 AM	saves
StevenO 02-10-08, 02:56 PM	Natural 20 on d20 means: Automatic hit with an attack which usually threatens (but doesn't grant) a critical hit. Automatically make a Saving throw. Activates some specific abilities. A Natural 20 does NOT: Guarentee a skill/ability check succeeds. Automatically overcome SR on with the caster level check. Automatically Turn Undead. Basically a natural 20 doesn't do anything special (except add 20 to whatever your checking) outside of Attack Rolls or Saving Throws.