Friendship is Dragons
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Page 1767 - Naturally Unnatural
Author Notes:
Newbiespud
10th Nov 2022, 6:00 AM
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13 Comments:
Your adapting a cartoon to represent a D&D session, natural 1's and 20's are perfect for explaining some of the things that happen. If it feels like you do it too much, its just because the source material you are drawing from has so many ups and downs.
I mean, statistically, there’s a 10% chance of one or the other happening on any given roll. Not too unlikely.
I think it would be strange if there weren't any. They're too useful for explaining weird behaviour and "plot armour" moments.
That’s kind of what Darths and Droids does (I think they also sometimes use roll results as “sound effects” accompanying the action, usually accompanying an attack, to make them not clutter dialogue), and they actually track the rolls they show to try and get a plausible distribution (https://darthsanddroids.net/episodes/0027.html).
Naturally, people forget that a natural 1 or natural 20 doesn't mean anything other than just a number when it comes to skill checks too. I.E. A barbarian, with a strength buff, high strength, and proficiency with expertise in athletics could have a +15 modifier; even a natural one means the check comes out as a 16, which against a DC 10, still passes, and quite easily. However, it's one of the most houseruled oddities that causes more tables than not to just make it 'super splendid' or 'fail horribly' regardless of outcome.
In a case like this, spud honestly uses the 1 a bit true to form: A failed arcana check would just have had nothing happen; however, Twilight's natural bonuses meant that she passed the skill to set it off (aka, a success), but the 1 means success with conditions. Much like how Fantasy Flight's Genesis system does, one can succeed with complications, or fail with advantages, to help spice up results (a method which I whole-heartedly approve of, as it adds narrative flair beyond the 'pass/fail' mechanic that the written rules cover).
But that's just the penny for my thoughts - given todays inflation, would it be dime for my time?
In a case like this, spud honestly uses the 1 a bit true to form: A failed arcana check would just have had nothing happen; however, Twilight's natural bonuses meant that she passed the skill to set it off (aka, a success), but the 1 means success with conditions. Much like how Fantasy Flight's Genesis system does, one can succeed with complications, or fail with advantages, to help spice up results (a method which I whole-heartedly approve of, as it adds narrative flair beyond the 'pass/fail' mechanic that the written rules cover).
But that's just the penny for my thoughts - given todays inflation, would it be dime for my time?
Yeah, it would have been nice to see her, or more of the buffaloes in general, in the later seasons. I've wondered for a while now why we never saw any at the School of Friendship.
Don’t tempt the dice gods. They will give you a natural 1 when you absolutely don’t need it.
I know Twilight is a little beginner, but even she should know that '1' is a Epic Fail, right?
She Does? It seems like her laughter is that sarcastic "Of course this happened" sorta laughter. Asking about the teleport seems like player asking DM to throw them a bone.
Natural 1 and 20 jokes are always welcome as it's a pillar form gaming.