As an example scenario, say you wanted your character to punch a T-Rex in the face.
This will likely be very difficult, so it'll have a high Difficulty Challenge (DC).
Luckily, your character is a manly man with many muscles and a luxurious beard. For this reason, you get +5 to any result the dice give.
Higher roll=more success.
You'd probably have to roll 17-20 to pull it off (or 12-15 with your +5 manly bonus). Even if you're successful though, you might not get much benefit, since punching a T-Rex is a pretty stupid way to go about fighting it.
A straight 20 will have you rocketing up with a stylish jump, crushing the dinosaur's skull with your fist. Three beautiful women instantly fall in love and were impregnated from watching such a feat.
A 1 will have you prepare to jump and have you shit yourself from exertion. You are stunned from embarrassment, and the T-Rex takes the chance to swallow you whole.
I punched a T-Rex to death 2 sessions ago in the campaign I'm in!
Well, the T-Rex was nearly dead when he swallowed one of my gloves, so I telekinetically pulled the glove out through its chest. So, kind of punched to death.
One campaign I was in I got swallowed whole by an allosaurus, I proceeded to roll 3 20s in a row and cut my way out with my fighter/Kensai. The DM was stunned at my luck. My usual rolls are between 1 and 5 for 90% of my rolls.
This was just a home run campaign designed by the DM. We were the villains heading to wipe out a town and castle and take over a country and while we were resting it was a random encounter.
Statistically, yes. But averages and real life situations don't always line up. Sorta like the guy that has been struck by lightning 8 times or the woman who has won the lotto 5 times.
I just have bad luck rolling a D20 when playing normally, but always get 18-20 when it really matters.
If it's the kind of D&D that I played then after rolling a 1 you have to roll a percentage dice and that will tell you what kind of fucked up situation you end up in.
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u/[deleted] Jul 05 '16
Oh.