Taking 10/20 on Skill-Checks [Archive] - Wizards Community

Taking 10/20 on Skill-Checks [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
LordArcheron
05-08-07, 06:15 AM Hi,

I got a quick question:

Do you know where i can find a list which shows if one is able to take 10/20 on a specific skill?

Thanks,
Dirk
Merestil Haye
05-08-07, 07:17 AM There probably is no list. However, here (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/usingSkills.htm#checksWithoutRolls) are the rules on the topic. Read them carefully and apply them to specific skills. Then if you have any doubts abut a specific skill, ask.

The only one I'm aware of that you can't take 10 on at all is Use Magic Device - because the skill says so.
Nom
05-08-07, 07:22 AM There's no such list. Many skills allow you to take 10/20 in some situations and not in others.

That said, figuring take 20 is trivial: if the spell doesn't have a "try again" entry, you can retry "without inherent penalty" and thus take 20 (see PH pg 66). If it says "Try again: No", you can't. Otherwise, read the details of the "try again" entry to see when retries are allowed. As long as retries are allowed and you have the time, you can take 20.

There's no simple skill-based rule on when you can take 10 (exception: you can't take 10 on Use magic device). Instead, you can take 10 whenever you attempt a skill check free from "distractions and threats" (such as combat or someone yelling irrelevancies in your ear). See PH pg 65. Except UMD and some checks that are only meaningful in combat (eg Bluff to feint), you can take 10 on any skill if the circumstances are right.
LordArcheron
05-08-07, 08:52 AM Thanks.

I'm DMing a campaign where most of my players have Craft and Profession for their income.
Can they take 10 or 20 on their checks each week?
Cadwal
05-08-07, 09:04 AM Thanks.

I'm DMing a campaign where most of my players have Craft and Profession for their income.
Can they take 10 or 20 on their checks each week?

You can take a 10, but not a 20. Taking a 20 implies you spend 20 times the normal amount of time. For most skill checks, this is a single round, so taking a 20 to search a five foot square means you spend two minutes thoroughly searching that area. A craft check to earn money requires a week. Taking a 20 would mean spending 20 weeks. Taking a 10 means you do an average job, not exceptional. In the case of craft, a modicum of skill and a decent intelligence (say total modifier of +6) can earn you 8gp/week when you take a 10. Adventurers won't get rich this way. In fact, they can't even stay at a good inn and eat well for 8gp/week. Remember, that is dedicated work. At least 40 hours per week, but probably more like 60 or 70 in my opinion. Don't count on doing other stuff.
Nom
05-08-07, 08:23 PM I'm DMing a campaign where most of my players have Craft and Profession for their income.
Can they take 10 or 20 on their checks each week?Profession will not allow you to try again for earning income for a given week, so no taking 20. If it's being used as a general skill (eg Profession (sailor) to free up some stuck oarlocks) then you can take 20.

You can try again on a craft check without penalty (except time) if you fail by 4 or less. Therefore, as long as you cannot fail by 5 or more you could take 20 on a craft check. But in this situation, one wonders why you don't just take 10?

Note that smart characters always take 10 on craft checks.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
LordArcheron 05-08-07, 06:15 AM	Hi, I got a quick question: Do you know where i can find a list which shows if one is able to take 10/20 on a specific skill? Thanks, Dirk
Merestil Haye 05-08-07, 07:17 AM	There probably is no list. However, here (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/usingSkills.htm#checksWithoutRolls) are the rules on the topic. Read them carefully and apply them to specific skills. Then if you have any doubts abut a specific skill, ask. The only one I'm aware of that you can't take 10 on at all is Use Magic Device - because the skill says so.
Nom 05-08-07, 07:22 AM	There's no such list. Many skills allow you to take 10/20 in some situations and not in others. That said, figuring take 20 is trivial: if the spell doesn't have a "try again" entry, you can retry "without inherent penalty" and thus take 20 (see PH pg 66). If it says "Try again: No", you can't. Otherwise, read the details of the "try again" entry to see when retries are allowed. As long as retries are allowed and you have the time, you can take 20. There's no simple skill-based rule on when you can take 10 (exception: you can't take 10 on Use magic device). Instead, you can take 10 whenever you attempt a skill check free from "distractions and threats" (such as combat or someone yelling irrelevancies in your ear). See PH pg 65. Except UMD and some checks that are only meaningful in combat (eg Bluff to feint), you can take 10 on any skill if the circumstances are right.
LordArcheron 05-08-07, 08:52 AM	Thanks. I'm DMing a campaign where most of my players have Craft and Profession for their income. Can they take 10 or 20 on their checks each week?
Cadwal 05-08-07, 09:04 AM	Thanks. I'm DMing a campaign where most of my players have Craft and Profession for their income. Can they take 10 or 20 on their checks each week? You can take a 10, but not a 20. Taking a 20 implies you spend 20 times the normal amount of time. For most skill checks, this is a single round, so taking a 20 to search a five foot square means you spend two minutes thoroughly searching that area. A craft check to earn money requires a week. Taking a 20 would mean spending 20 weeks. Taking a 10 means you do an average job, not exceptional. In the case of craft, a modicum of skill and a decent intelligence (say total modifier of +6) can earn you 8gp/week when you take a 10. Adventurers won't get rich this way. In fact, they can't even stay at a good inn and eat well for 8gp/week. Remember, that is dedicated work. At least 40 hours per week, but probably more like 60 or 70 in my opinion. Don't count on doing other stuff.
Nom 05-08-07, 08:23 PM	I'm DMing a campaign where most of my players have Craft and Profession for their income. Can they take 10 or 20 on their checks each week?Profession will not allow you to try again for earning income for a given week, so no taking 20. If it's being used as a general skill (eg Profession (sailor) to free up some stuck oarlocks) then you can take 20. You can try again on a craft check without penalty (except time) if you fail by 4 or less. Therefore, as long as you cannot fail by 5 or more you could take 20 on a craft check. But in this situation, one wonders why you don't just take 10? Note that smart characters always take 10 on craft checks.