Ability Checks

The DMG (page 237) indicates that it is possible for players to re-try a failed ability check in some cases at the DM’s discretion with a potential time to succeed penalty of 10x the “normal” amount of time needed. Unfortunately what constitutes “normal” in these cases is a bit more nebulous and the vagueness of this all being at the DM’s discretion is somewhat unsatisfying.

For campaigns using this rule clarification, the default assumption is that any specific ability check using the same skill, DC, and target is attemptable only once and by only one character. In other words, a low-level Rogue could not attempt to pick a difficult lock, fail, and say, “Okay, I try again.” Likewise, if the Rogue fails the Dexterity check, a Ranger with reasonably high DEX could not borrow the Rogue’s thieves’ tools and try themselves (even if they have Proficiency in the tools). Unless something changes about the approach, the DC, or the target, one chance is the default.

Note that an attempt with another PC providing Advantage on the check through “helping” (this is either using the “working together” rules on page 175 of the PHB or the Help combat action) does not count as a change to the check so the Rogue in the example above could not fail, then ask if the party’s Ranger with Proficiency in thieves’ tools can give them a hand. Players should be encouraged to work together prior to rolling ability checks to ensure the attempting character has as high a chance of success as possible.

What does count as a change to the check would be if the party’s Barbarian wanted to simply rip the lock out of the door, which would alter the skill used (Strength), and the DC, even if the target remains the same. Also if the room or building the party is attempting to access has another access point, such as a locked window, the Rogue could make another attempt to pick that lock as the target is different even though the character, skill, and perhaps even the DC remain the same.

Exceptions

As a final point of clarification, the DM may determine that a particular check is exempted from this limitation. It is still up to the DM to decide whether or not a check is repeatable, the intent of this clarification is to highlight that the default is for PCs to attempt to overcome each obstacle or solve each problem that requires an ability check with their “initial best effort” and problem-solve if that effort proves unsuccessful.

RC01 Active, v1.0