[RPG] Is there ever a mechanic that causes advantage/disadvantage to stack and cause more than 2d20 to be rolled

advantage-and-disadvantagednd-5estacking

I am new to D&D 5th ed. I have purchased the books but not played in a group. One of the first big things I see is that advantage (or disadvantage) replace most of the die roll modifiers.

Is there EVER a case where more than 2 dice are rolled? (either adv. or disadv.)

I have seen the probability charts that display exactly what the 2nd d20 does on advantage or disadvantage, to your probability of rolling a certain number or higher.
Is there ever a case, in the DMG, etc., where a DM might choose, or would be recommended to, ask player(s) to roll a 3rd die? (I.e., that those graphs should be a bit more sloped.)

Example: What if a rogue has a modifier that gives advantage to climb a wall. (feat, special gloves, etc.) If it is also raining, the wall is covered in algae, and he has a wounded thumb, do the + and – really just cancel out, so he has a straight chance?
Or would these hypothetical disadvantages just add to the DC?

Best Answer

Advantage/Disadvantage NEVER uses more than 2 dice

With one weird exception: The Lucky feat allows you roll 1 extra die (after rolling the first 2) and pick 1 of the dice you rolled. This can turn advantage or disadvantage into a kind of "great advantage" especially since you can see the first 2 dice before spending a luck point. Obviously, lucky people can be more lucky when they are really pushing their luck.

There are other features (e.g., halfling luck) that may cause one of these to be rerolled but that is not an extra die – it is one of the originals. The difference is only semantic pedantry but I like semantic pedantry.

You only roll when there is a chance of success or failure

If the advantage/disadvantage is so overwhelming that the creature CAN'T fail/succeed, then don't roll dice: they just do/don't do it.

You set the DC and you decide what constitutes advantage/disadvantage – they are independent mechanics

In theory, the DC represents the inherent difficulty and advantage/disadvantage represents situational effects. Where you draw the line between them is your ruling and as DM, you can't be wrong about it.

However, there is guidance:

  1. If a rule says it affects DC, or adds a modifier (they do still exist), or gives advantage/disadvantage, do that.
  2. If it is a permanent feature of the challenge, lean towards the DC.
  3. If it is a temporary or intermittent effect or something that affects only some creatures, lean towards advantage/disadvantage.

For your example:

  • "feat, special gloves, etc.": the rule says advantage so advantage it is.
  • "raining" could go either way: if its always raining like in a rain forest then change the DC, if the PCs can wait for the rain to stop then make it disadvantage.
  • "algae" sounds permanent to me: DC. If the PCs remove the algae somehow then change the DC.
  • "wounded thumb" is not really a thing that D&D contemplated but OK. It's temporary: disadvantage.

So the algae makes the Easy (DC10) climb Medium (DC15). 1 advantage and 2 disadvantage means neither. Roll 1 die against DC15.