Baldur's Gate 3: Rolls
As you probably know, the player is asked to roll a die when he wants to perform an action likely to fail. A d20 is rolled, and the different bonuses, penalties, proficiency, advantages, disadvantages and others are applied to the result to see if the score obtained is equal or higher than the score requested to succeed the action.
Things here are simple, the more difficult an action, the higher its Degree of Difficulty (DC). Here is a general SD indicator for a task:
- Very easy: 5
- Easy: 10
- Average: 15
- Difficult: 20
- Very difficult: 25
- Almost impossible: 30
If successful, the action progresses or is accomplished, but if it fails, there is no progress, and there can be negative effects. For example, if our barbarian tries to force a door but he fails, not only has he not opened the door, but in addition it is blocked and it can no longer be picked by the rogue.
Opposition
In some cases, there is direct competition between 2 characters in order to perform a particular action. The most common examples are when trying to grab the same item but only one can do it (similar actions) or when a character tries to keep a door closed while another tries to open it by force (opposite actions). In this case, the 2 characters make a stat roll, with the different applicable bonuses and penalties, and the result between the two totals is compared.
The one with the highest total wins. In the event of a tie, the situation doesn't change for this round. Neither of them succeeded in taking the item, and in the example of the door, it remains closed.
Passive rolls
Some continuous or repeated actions don't involve a roll. The most common example is the search for a secret door or hidden item. It would be unfair for players to stay in place until they make a successful roll, so instead they use a passive roll. The calculation is as follows:
10 + the modifiers that apply to the roll (statistics, skill, mastery, advantage or disadvantage), compared to the level of Difficulty.
In case of advantage, a bonus of 5 is added, in case of disadvantage, we subtract 5.
- For example, a level 1 character with 12 in wisdom and proficiency in the perception skill will have passive detection rolls of 10 + 1 (wisdom) +2 (perception) = 13. If the secret door has a level of difficulty of 15, he won't spot it.
Work together
The different members of the group can combine their efforts to try to accomplish a particular task. For example, pushing a large rock. The character with the highest relevant stat will lead the effort, and will have an advantage to reflect the help received. A similar system, Aid, is applicable in combat.
This system is obviously not usable with an action which can only be accomplished on its own, such as picking a lock.
