Hold onto your dice bags, adventurers! Today we‘re diving deep on the natural 20, perhaps the most coveted result in all of tabletop roleplaying. As a longtime D&D expert and data whisperer, I‘m here to demystify the legendary natural 20 once and for all.
A Quick Primer on Natural 20s
First, let‘s cover the basics for any newbies. In Dungeons & Dragons, most major actions involve rolling a 20-sided die (d20) and adding modifiers:
- Attack rolls – Did you hit the dragon with your battleaxe?
- Ability checks – Can you leap over the chasm?
- Saving throws – Did you resist the wizard‘s spell?
If the total meets or beats the target number (AC, DC, etc), you succeed!
Now, rolling a natural 20 means the d20 itself landed on 20 before any modifiers. This triggers special effects:
- Attack rolls – Automatic hit + double damage.
- Death saves – Regain 1 HP and wake up.
No other bonuses needed! Just pure luck smiling upon you in that moment.
Natural 20s create some of D&D‘s most memorable game tales. As we‘ll explore today, these moments transcend rules and dice to become legendary.
By the Numbers: Odds and Probabilities
Alright fellow math geeks, let‘s crunch some numbers on natural 20 probabilities!
Each d20 roll is an independent event with uniform distribution – every side has an equal 1-in-20 chance of landing face up. This means:
- Chance of rolling any single number (including 20): 5%
- Chance of rolling two specific numbers consecutively: 0.25% (1 in 400)
We can visualize this using a probability density graph:
Table 1 shows the full probability distribution:
| Roll | Probability |
|---|---|
| 1 | 5% |
| 2 | 5% |
| 3 | 5% |
| … | … |
| 19 | 5% |
| 20 | 5% |
So in practical terms, during a typical 4-hour D&D session with ~5 rolls per round over 6 combat encounters, each player will roll their d20 about 120 times.
On average, each player should expect 6 natural 20s per session – though the actual results may vary dramatically!
Ask the Experts: Legendary Natural 20 Stories
Numbers only tell part of the story. To fully appreciate the impact of natural 20s, we need to hear directly from players about their most memorable experiences:
"In my very first D&D session as a newbie, I charged a bandit chief and rolled a natural 20 on my attack. Total fluke – but I chopped his head off in one blow! The rest of the group went wild. I was hooked on D&D forever after that."
- Mark R., D&D player for 20+ years
"I was surrounded by zombies and down to my last death save. Two fails already…then boom, natural 20! I sprang back up and the table erupted. It was like coming back from the dead for real!"
- Alex W., D&D Dungeon Master
"Our party snuck into a dragon‘s lair, and our thief rolled a natural 20 on his stealth check. We made it right up to the treasure hoard undetected! Of course then our bard decided to try stealing a gem…oops."
- Kat S., regular D&D group member
These stories illustrate how natural 20s create lasting memories and highlight the fun randomness inherent in D&D. Now let‘s analyze how they specifically impact gameplay.
Gameplay Implications: When Nat 20s Shine
Massive Damage
Natural 20s have special relevance in D&D 5th Edition‘s massive damage rules.
If a player takes damage exceeding their max HP in a single blow, they must make a DC 15 Constitution save. Fail, and it‘s instant death!
But a natural 20 on that save means they cling to life with 1 HP remaining. The ultimate lifesaver in high-stakes moments!
Skilled Rogues
Rogues really shine when natural 20s are in play. Their Reliable Talent feature guarantees a minimum roll of 10 on any skill check proficiencies.
So Rogues are more likely to hit DCs over 20 – a natural 20 still allows unbelievable successes.
Just imagine a Rogue with +17 Stealth rolling a natural 20 for a 37! Instant invisibility.
Brutal Boss Fights
Natural 20s are a double-edged sword. Bosses can crit too!
Some DMs use optional crit effects to make boss fights more perilous:
- Stunned, frightened, or other conditions on a crit
- Extra damage dice or maximized damage
- Knocking players back, proning them, or disarming
- Unleashing a weapon‘s hidden power on a crit
When the stakes are high, a boss landing natural 20s can really ratchet up the danger!
Death Saves
As we covered earlier, natural 20s on death saves are literal lifesavers. They create intense drama when characters are on the brink.
Many players have tales of clutch natural 20s cheating death at the last moment. But beware…that same 5% chance works for enemies too!
Playing With The Rules: Natural 20 Variants
Plenty of groups use house rules to make natural 20s even more impactful:
- Automatic success or failure on skill checks
- Maximum damage on all dice, not just double
- Massive damage for enemies
- Custom crit tables with wild effects
But some DMs limit nat 20s to reduce swinginess:
- Only maximize one damage die on crits
- Require a second attack roll to confirm crits
- Allow saves to negate excessive crit damage
Overall, DMs should carefully consider crit house rules and playtest thoroughly. Small tweaks can have major consequences on game balance!
Beyond d20: Other Systems Handle Crits Differently
While D&D and Pathfinder largely codified natural 20 rules, other d20 systems put their own spin on crits:
- 13th Age – Only players crit, not NPCs. Nat 20 = max normal damage.
- Dungeon Crawl Classics – Checks crit fail on 1 or 20. Unique effects.
- Shadow of the Demon Lord – Confirmaton rolls required for crits.
Meanwhile, non-d20 games use entirely different crit mechanics:
- Call of Cthulhu – No crits. All resolution is skill percentage based.
- Burning Wheel – Crits trigger special abilities when stats are maxed.
- WARS RPG – Damage multiplier based on margin above to-hit number.
Ultimately every system tailors crits to match desired gameplay experience.
The Culture of the Natural 20
Even beyond mechanics, nat 20s hold a special place in D&D culture and superstitions.
New players quickly adopt the practices of celebrating great crits and agonizing over terrible ones. Superstitious rituals abound: dice stacking, salt shakers, lucky socks, incantations, and offerings to the dice gods.
Crits have permeated D&D language as well. We instinctively infuse 20 with power in phrases like "rolling a natty 20" or "coming in hot with a 20!" Bad luck earns colorful epithets like "rolling a natural whiff".
In many ways, the natural 20 transcends just numbers and probability. It‘s the intersection of storytelling, communal joy, and pure chance in this wonderful hobby we love.
The Legend Lives On
As long as polyhedral dice grace D&D tables, the natural 20 will continue thrilling us. With great power comes great responsibility…to celebrate appropriately when one appears!
What‘s your most epic natural 20 story? Share in the comments below! Until our next crit-filled adventure, may your attacks strike true and your saving throws stand strong.
