The Opposed Roll

Many of the attack options described below use a game mechanic known as an opposed roll. In an opposed roll, whoever comes closest to their success number without going past it wins the contest.

For example, two characters wrestling for control of one sword could be required to make opposed Strength checks to see who gets the weapon. The character with the highest d20 roll that doesn’t exceed his Strength score wins the contest.

Because the goal of an opposed roll is to come as close to missing as possible without doing it, attack rolls are won by the character with the lowest roll that doesn’t go under their required to-hit number, and ability checks are won by the character with the highest roll that doesn’t exceed his ability score. Ties extend the contest one round, unless stated otherwise.

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