Ability Checks [Archive] - Wizards Community

Ability Checks [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
programmertim
02-15-07, 01:24 PM Our DM has decided that since an ability check doesn't explicitly say it can be retried, that it can't. Specifically, we were trying to break open a door and he would not allow a reroll or a take 20 unless we could find something to change. So now we have to have one person try, then add one assistant so that something changed, then add another. If we still don't have it open we have to come up with strange things like, "Oh, I must have slipped on some loose gravel so I'll sweep the floor before retrying." I don't mind so much as long as he is consistent, but it is a pain in the butt to go through every time.

I know that unless a skill check has consequences for failure you can retry it and take 20, and that ability checks are effectively untrained skill checks. But is it explicitly written down anywhere that you can retry a skill check. If not, is there any other way to convince the DM to allow retries?
TheChilliGod
02-15-07, 01:35 PM Take a look at page 65 of the PHB, just under the Take 10 and Take 20 rules.

Ability Checks and Caster Level Checks: The normal take 10 and take 20 rules apply for ability checks...Since you can take 20, you can surely retry an ability check.
bonethug0108
02-15-07, 01:36 PM You can retry any ability check that in the same situation you would be able to retry a skill check.

Breaking down doors is a good example of this. If you don't get it on the first try, there may be someone on the other side who is now altered to your prescence. You would still be allowed to retry breaking down the door, as the door isn't open yet. Think of it in a real life situation. If you slam into a door and it doesn't open, what is stopping you from trying again?

Another example is if you slip and fall off a ledge. Let's just say for the purpose of this arguement that we use a dex check instead of a reflex save. If you fail, you fall. You wouldn't be able to try it again, because you are now falling and to far away from the ledge to try to grab it. You could, however, try a dex check to grab the side of the cliff(or whatever you fell down).

Your dm isn't using the rules properly, and is instead just making things unncessarily complicated for the sake of giving you grief.

Ability check = skill check without skill. When you roll a spot check, and you have no ranks in spot, you are basically just rolling a wis check. You can retry a spot check, so you would also be able to retry a wis check.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
programmertim 02-15-07, 01:24 PM	Our DM has decided that since an ability check doesn't explicitly say it can be retried, that it can't. Specifically, we were trying to break open a door and he would not allow a reroll or a take 20 unless we could find something to change. So now we have to have one person try, then add one assistant so that something changed, then add another. If we still don't have it open we have to come up with strange things like, "Oh, I must have slipped on some loose gravel so I'll sweep the floor before retrying." I don't mind so much as long as he is consistent, but it is a pain in the butt to go through every time. I know that unless a skill check has consequences for failure you can retry it and take 20, and that ability checks are effectively untrained skill checks. But is it explicitly written down anywhere that you can retry a skill check. If not, is there any other way to convince the DM to allow retries?
TheChilliGod 02-15-07, 01:35 PM	Take a look at page 65 of the PHB, just under the Take 10 and Take 20 rules. Ability Checks and Caster Level Checks: The normal take 10 and take 20 rules apply for ability checks...Since you can take 20, you can surely retry an ability check.
bonethug0108 02-15-07, 01:36 PM	You can retry any ability check that in the same situation you would be able to retry a skill check. Breaking down doors is a good example of this. If you don't get it on the first try, there may be someone on the other side who is now altered to your prescence. You would still be allowed to retry breaking down the door, as the door isn't open yet. Think of it in a real life situation. If you slam into a door and it doesn't open, what is stopping you from trying again? Another example is if you slip and fall off a ledge. Let's just say for the purpose of this arguement that we use a dex check instead of a reflex save. If you fail, you fall. You wouldn't be able to try it again, because you are now falling and to far away from the ledge to try to grab it. You could, however, try a dex check to grab the side of the cliff(or whatever you fell down). Your dm isn't using the rules properly, and is instead just making things unncessarily complicated for the sake of giving you grief. Ability check = skill check without skill. When you roll a spot check, and you have no ranks in spot, you are basically just rolling a wis check. You can retry a spot check, so you would also be able to retry a wis check.