Critical failures on ability checks are ridiculous

[TEA CAT]

Please add an option to turn off critical failures on ability checks. To begin with, that is not part of the official 5e rules, even though some groups accept it as a house rule. I never run my games like that and never play in those groups. It adds an unacceptable level of randomness to what should be a regular action for a character. Naturally, that option should also turn off critical successes as well. Whether you roll a 1 or a 20 should only have special meaning for attack rolls and for nothing else.

[Caz]

Originally posted by TEA CAT:

Whether you roll a 1 or a 20 should only have special meaning for attack rolls and for nothing else.

I disagree. Looks like we're at an impasse.

[RamzaBehoulve]

Originally posted by TEA CAT:

Please add an option to turn off critical failures on ability checks. To begin with, that is not part of the official 5e rules, even though some groups accept it as a house rule. I never run my games like that and never play in those groups. It adds an unacceptable level of randomness to what should be a regular action for a character. Naturally, that option should also turn off critical successes as well. Whether you roll a 1 or a 20 should only have special meaning for attack rolls and for nothing else.

I like it as is, so I disagree.

[✙205🍉🐆→]

I like it as is, so I disagree.

[Rodis]

A option to use this houserule or the corerule would be nice.

[HozzMidnight]

An option would be nice. I hate it too. I failed a DC2 check with like +11 just because I rolled a 1.

[Kermit the prog]

Originally posted by HozzMidnight:

An option would be nice. I hate it too. I failed a DC2 check with like +11 just because I rolled a 1.

Astarion door lockpick? if so same.

I've also failed a dc 5 persuasion check with my +7 sorcerer because of a 1.

[Occursus]

Originally posted by TEA CAT:

Please add an option to turn off critical failures on ability checks. To begin with, that is not part of the official 5e rules, even though some groups accept it as a house rule. I never run my games like that and never play in those groups. It adds an unacceptable level of randomness to what should be a regular action for a character. Naturally, that option should also turn off critical successes as well. Whether you roll a 1 or a 20 should only have special meaning for attack rolls and for nothing else.

This morning, the sun was too bright and I fell of my bed instead of waking up gracefully like every other mornings.

Stuff happens in rare situations. 1 on the dice represents that.

[Archfiend]

Not even sure why they added this as critical failures on skill checks were never part of the core rules just a homerule that became popular due to people not fully reading the rule books and falsely thinking it was part of the rules. Amusing that such a thing came about because of people not thinking for themselves.
At the very least we should have the option to toggle it on and off with the default option being off.

[AlphaVictorKilo]

Get an 18 sided die that goes from 2 to 19 then!

Oh wait...then you would be missing critical mechanic based gameplay

Getting critical failures is part of the process, just as getting critical successes (would you be complaining if you were a 1 charisma character and got a nat20 on a charisma role? Same difference as getting a critical failure of 1 on a strength check when you have 25 points in it)

Randomness is, surprise, RANDOM

[sajmon]

if its really not part of the rulebook, then id get rid of it

[Zoid13]

yeah i agree they should also remove all the losing combinations that don't benefit me on the casino slot machine i like...

[WhatsaPaladin]

Strong agree! Just failed a skill check of 2 with a +4 to wisdom, sheer nonsense.

[damionthrakos]

Agreed. Crit failing skill checks has never been a thing in 5e outside of house rules. I also just don't understand all the people saying "I like it how it is, so quit complaining." Like bruh, we're just asking for an option, a toggle for that rule for the people who don't want it rather than forcing everyone to use a homebrew rule we didn't want.

[TheDraconicBard]

Dungeon Master's Guide, page 243:
"Rolling a 20 or a 1 on an ability check or a saving throw doesn't normally have any especial effect. However, you can choose to take such an exceptional roll into account when adjudicating the outcome"

It's an optional rule, yes, but saying it's not part of the official 5E rules is simply incorrect. The devs are the DMs and they chose to make 20s and 1s matter

[Sichimus]

Originally posted by AlphaVictorKilo:

Get an 18 sided die that goes from 2 to 19 then!

Oh wait...then you would be missing critical mechanic based gameplay

Getting critical failures is part of the process, just as getting critical successes (would you be complaining if you were a 1 charisma character and got a nat20 on a charisma role? Same difference as getting a critical failure of 1 on a strength check when you have 25 points in it)

Randomness is, surprise, RANDOM

This is literally not how it works rules as written in the 5e rulebook.