Binding Question

[Elandris Kajar]

When a Binder makes a pact, does he auto-fail on a1 and auto-succeed on a 20? Or does it work more like skill checks?
Thanks in advance!

[prufock]

Unless it says so, checks don't auto-succeed or fail. As far as I know, it doesn't say so for binding checks.

[Sagetim]

you're making a diplomacy skill check, therefore it is a skill check, therefore it does not auto fail or succeed.

[mabriss lethe]

you're making a diplomacy skill check, therefore it is a skill check, therefore it does not auto fail or succeed.

It's not a diplomacy skill check. IIRC, When making a pact, Binders roll d20+binder level+cha bonus.

[Red Fel]

Here is a relevant quote on attack rolls (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/combatStatistics.htm#attackRoll):
A natural 1 (the d20 comes up 1) on an attack roll is always a miss. A natural 20 (the d20 comes up 20) is always a hit.

And on saving throws (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/combatStatistics.htm#automaticFailuresandSuccesses ):
A natural 1 (the d20 comes up 1) on a saving throw is always a failure (and may cause damage to exposed items; see Items Surviving after a Saving Throw). A natural 20 (the d20 comes up 20) is always a success.

And on skill checks (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/usingSkills.htm#skillChecks):
Unlike with attack rolls and saving throws, a natural roll of 20 on the d20 is not an automatic success, and a natural roll of 1 is not an automatic failure.

What can we infer from these? Well, attack rolls and saving throws are expressly called out as saying that a natural 1 is an automatic failure, and a 20 an automatic success. These are express deviations from the default rule, which is simply to roll, then add or subtract the appropriate modifiers, and see if the total succeeds or fails. The rule for skill checks confirms this; "Unlike with attack rolls and saving throws," you simply check your roll total.

The roll in question is neither an attack roll, nor saving throw, nor skill check. It is a Binder level check, which is closer to a skill or ability check than an attack or save. As such, the general rule - roll, add and subtract, check the total - ought to apply, rather than the automatic success or failure rule, which is an explicit and specific exception.

[Elandris Kajar]

Thanks for clearing it up!!

[Sagetim]

It's not a diplomacy skill check. IIRC, When making a pact, Binders roll d20+binder level+cha bonus.

oh, right, sorry about that. I misremembered.