Discussion:2ed Ability Checks?

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Punkmonkeyed (talk) 20:31, 11 June 2017 (UTC)

This may be a dumb question but here goes. I've only ever played AD&D but I've heard, through podcasts and whatnot, of the Ability Check which makes a lot of sense. I haven't played in long, long time and just got back into it. I'm DMing a Homebrew game for some friends. So far fairly pleased with the results and enjoying the process; it's all coming back to me. I don't remember ever using anything remotely like the Ability Check. I know this is a 5th edition thing. So here's the question; does anyone know if there is a version of the Ability Check or something that serves the same purpose in AD&D or 2nd Ed? I would prefer to play "the right way" if there is a "right way". If not I will probably just adopt a bastardized version of the 5th ed Ability Check for our game but without modifiers. Your help is appreciated.

GamerAim (talk) 14:12, 14 June 2017 (UTC)

It's simple: roll 1d20 (or 3d6, but I think 2e made it 1d20) and if you roll under your ability score, you succeed. So you roll Dex check with a Dex of 15 to ride a horse, roll 1d20 and if it's 15 or under, you make it! Above 15, you fail.

128.180.112.101 14:35, 14 June 2017 (UTC)

Thanks. You're right, it is simple. I thought it would be far more arcane.