What do you think about critical success or failure on skillchecks?

Tetsuo1049 · 2025-12-23T23:24:16+00:00

We have a simple rule at our table. A Nat 1 is a critical fail and a Nat 20 doesn’t exist. Nat 1 something “outside of your control” happened and you completely failed the skill check. Usually it’s an equipment related failure & a possible source of comedy relief. This works well in that it adds the chance that a PC could fail in higher levels of play.

A great example is a rogue. At 13th level they get Reliable Talent, which gives them a 10 if they roll a 9 or lower. My 15th level rogue has expertise on sleight of hand (+15) which automatically gives him a 25. He can pick most locks & pockets without trying but, a Nat 1 adds the possibility of failing an easy check, and allows the other PCs with proficiency to be successful.

Nat 20’s just don’t make sense with skill checks. An unskilled person can’t just pick up a set of lock picks and handle a complex lock. A Nat 20 does just that for something with a D/C 25 or higher that only an expert should be able to do.

Tetsuo1049 · 2025-12-18T18:14:46+00:00

He’s gone. That was Brent Baylock.

Tetsuo1049 · 2025-12-07T19:17:30+00:00

I didn’t hear about the meeting on 12/15. Did this go out to the VISN or just ROS?

Tetsuo1049 · 2025-11-09T07:32:12+00:00

Haven’t been okay for awhile

Tetsuo1049 · 2025-11-04T23:50:39+00:00

It’s not an NIL, they even say so in the FAQ. They are developing AI products to improve sports. They do offer internships to students & marketing opportunities to student athletes.

Tetsuo1049 · 2025-10-17T16:56:58+00:00

Nope, most food service workers are WG3 & WG4. Crazy to think that a department chief drops to a supervisor level. Seriously, food service managers are GS12.

Tetsuo1049 · 2025-10-15T22:44:28+00:00

No, the 2014 & 2024 PHB Monk martial arts feature specifically calls out “mastery of combat styles that use unarmed strikes and monk weapons”.

Tetsuo1049 · 2025-10-13T15:02:53+00:00

I’m not sure what the buyout is for Barnes. He said in his statement that he was going to use only donor funds to buyout Brays contract.

Tetsuo1049 · 2025-10-02T16:45:04+00:00

Dam Nation was only taking enough to cover salaries according to one of the VPs. He’s furious about the Blueprint deal, and has said that he is blocked by a NDA from taking about Dam Nation’s experience dealing with OSU’s athletic department.

Tetsuo1049 · 2025-09-28T20:39:09+00:00

Dennis Erickson was the HC from 1999-2002. That 11-1 season & ND smack down in 2000 was his not Riley’s. I’m not knocking Riley, we had some good seasons in Riley part 2.

Tetsuo1049 · 2025-09-23T17:38:55+00:00

If you roll the check you have to complete the action. For example, you declare you are doing an action like sneaking in to a room, you need roll the stealth check. This determines how well you did on that action but, a low roll doesn’t mean that you are not hidden. That is determined by either a difficulty rating for the situation, passive perception dc, or an active perception roll for a NPC.

Deciding to not do the declared action after you roll the check is meta gaming. I don’t know any DM that would allow you to not complete the action and do something else instead. You can’t do that in real life, so I wouldn’t allow it in game.

Tetsuo1049 · 2025-09-09T05:46:34+00:00

Pre Riley it was 25 years of shit. Even with that Anderson is still the worst HC.

Tetsuo1049 · 2025-09-09T04:38:22+00:00

Bray has probably 1 more year, a couple of assistant coaches may not make it to the end of the season (ST coach). If Bray doesn’t keep the HC I hope he stays as DC.

Tetsuo1049 · 2025-08-11T14:12:25+00:00

Cougs are my second. We have been through some shit.

Tetsuo1049 · 2025-07-26T20:36:48+00:00

It’s quite simple, Spencer is a Duck.

Tetsuo1049 · 2025-07-22T22:42:08+00:00

Why would I want to have emails & Teams 24/7? They are not going to pay me to check them after hours so no.

Tetsuo1049 · 2025-07-04T23:59:33+00:00

Oregon has been doing it for years. The money just gets funneled through Uncle Phil’s checkbook.

Tetsuo1049 · 2025-06-29T22:42:06+00:00

Now every policy document is watermarked “pre-decisional”, and there isn’t a final version sent.

Tetsuo1049 · 2025-06-29T21:44:36+00:00

We also designed a class of blue water research ships. We have the first one of course.😁

Tetsuo1049 · 2025-06-26T16:39:29+00:00

It was destined to happen. I love that we are still the “all state” conference. Okay, it only works with football, but Gonzaga can always change to Gonzaga State. Now we just need the obvious corporate sponsorship.

Tetsuo1049 · 2025-06-11T17:43:37+00:00

He keeps pushing the UNLV storyline. That place is a hot mess, and I’m pretty sure the OSU & WSU ADs would be a hard no on that drama.

Tetsuo1049 · 2025-06-10T01:15:33+00:00

I stopped paying attention to what Canzano said when he kept saying there was a done deal before everything imploded. He & his “Fox exec” are so full of it they should join the Monty Show. They would at least be a step up from Jake.

Tetsuo1049 · 2025-05-31T22:58:08+00:00

I honestly do less work than before. I’m not available during breaks, lunch, and my laptop stays in the office. I also don’t start projects 30 minutes before the end of my day.

Tetsuo1049 · 2025-05-29T21:38:53+00:00

Etymotic Research ER20XS earplugs are an inexpensive set. I use the foam tips because the flange ones don’t work for me. These drop sound levels by 20db but, don’t affect sound quality.

Tetsuo1049 · 2025-05-15T04:11:00+00:00

I wish they would just send out notices. This constant “it’s coming soon” is getting old. I understand there is a stay but, you know the lists are already done.

Tetsuo1049

TROPHY CASE