this post was submitted on 14 Apr 2025
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A couple weeks ago, I had a (dnd 5e) barbarian who was supposed to wrestle some random fire shaman using a series of contested athletics checks. I had advantage due to raging, the Bless spell, and bardic inspiration, (and Powerful Build but that's only thematically appropriate) and still failed three contests in a row, because the fire shaman never rolled under an 18. My DM just said, no flavor, "yeah this guy just beat you".
Ah man, but tests of athletics are so fun to narrate! First roll: "Seeing your clear physical advantage, the shaman leaps toward you as soon as the competition begins, managing to work his way into an advantageous initial position." Second roll: "Pressing the advantage, the shaman is able to weave between the arms of your stronger grab, heaving you up and down to the ground. At this point, there's only one chance for you to recover." Third roll: "It all happened so fast. Despite superior strength and every magical boon at your disposal, the shaman's quick reaction and formidable skill at using his own body has managed to pin you just long enough to eke out a win. 'A little overconfident, weren't you?' he says, offering a hand to help you up (or glaring down at you if he doesn't like you)."