Alex Honnold

The question of skill checks comes up sometimes, in particular when the question of whether a nat 1 should cause an automatic failure comes up.

I have discussed this as it pertains to a before, but for this, I'm focusing on 5E.

Specifically, a test that DMs should apply: would the way they assign DCs to skill checks (climb checks in particular) kill Alex Honnold?

Alex Honold is a Free Solo climber, meaning that he carries out climbs with NO assistive technology, NO safety technology, NO climbing partner, and at heights where a fall is almost certain to be fatal or at least severely injurious (doing this at survivable heights is called "bouldering"), and he is widely considered to be the best in the world.

He is, obviously, human.

He uses no magic items, so far as we know.

It's unlikely that he's lvl 20, but lets for the sake of argument assume that he is.

Adding his proficiency, his strength (even if we assume that he is as strong as it is physically possible for a human to be, which he probably isn't, compare his physique to any professional weightlifter) cannot be more than 5, and assuming he has expertise, we get an absolute maximum of +17.

He has performed many climbs since 2007, and it is reasonable to assume that he has rolled a nat 1 at least once, and certainly he has rolled below a 3.

So, the questions become...

How many checks would you require to climb a large rock wall like the famous "El Capitan"?

If it's 1, that seems a bit odd, climbing a massive rock formation takes the same number of checks as a little brick wall?

If it is many, then you must assume that there will be some low rolls.

How high would the DC for these checks be?

Because even a DC of 20 means that there will be some failures over his life, and he can't fail even once.

What if he rolls a natural 1, and meets the DC anyhow?

If a natural 1 is an automatic failure, then this is something that a person cannot do as a hobby, or a regular job. 5% is not a minuscule percentage!!!

Ultimately, every table is different, but this is a good check to apply when you are figuring out how to rule it for your own table. Actual real-world people, not fantasy adventurers, can regularly succeed at something that should still have a high chance of failure for less athletically inclined individuals.

A reasonable proposal might be:

For every 15 feet you want to climb, roll an athletics check. on a failure, you fall. If you roll a nat 1, but meet the DC, you still succeed. Then set the DC at 15, maybe 16 or even 18 for a really hard climb.

Thoughts?

Thats what I'm talking about

Interviewer: What are you going to do this afternoon?

AH: I’m probably going to hang board.

I: You’re going to go do a hang board workout?

AH: I mean, in a bit, yeah. I mean I want to eat some lunch, I want to get in the shade and then I’m probably going to hang board in a bit. I am perfectly warmed up, I just did four hours’ light exercise, you know?...

... I: A normal person would probably take the afternoon off after they free-soloed El Cap.

AH: But I’ve been trying to hang board every other day, and it’s the other day.