Earlier tonight, we had a heated debate on how a Bard's countersong actually works. There seems to be 2 different stages, and the 2nd is fairly clear cut. It was the initial part that caused the discussion.
Countersong (Su): At 1st level, a bard learns to counter magic effects that depend on sound (but not spells that have verbal components). Each round of the countersong he makes a Perform (keyboard, percussion, wind, string, or sing) skill check. Any creature within 30 feet of the bard (including the bard himself ) that is affected by a sonic or language-dependent magical attack may use the bard’s Perform check result in place of its saving throw if, after the saving throw is rolled, the Perform check result proves to be higher. If a creature within range of the countersong is already under the effect of a noninstantaneous sonic or language-dependent magical attack, it gains another saving throw against the effect each round it hears the countersong, but it must use the bard’s Perform skill check result for the save. Countersong does not work on effects that don’t allow saves. Countersong relies on audible components.
Person 1: Believes that the effect is similar to a reroll.
Where, you use the better roll, regardless of a natural 1 (on either die, since a natural 1 doesn't auto-fail a skill check). Referenced the Fortune Hex, despite not having the same language.Person 2: Believes that the effect is not a reroll.
You roll the die and add your bonuses. Use the final result as your total or the Perform total. But the die roll does matter when it involves a natural 1, since that is an auto-fail regardless of the total. This is because the ability mentions using the result, not the Perform die roll.
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What are your opinions on how it works, and why you think so.
The reroll comparison is a red herring. It's simpler to just read the ability in isolation.
If I understand correctly, the fun part of this discussion is when someone has an excellent saving throw mod but rolls a natural 1. E.g.,
1. Alice the Arcanist has a Will save modifier of +9 and rolls a natural 1. The numerical result is a 10, but it's an automatic failure.
2. Bob the NPC Bard has a Perform modifier of +6 but rolls a 1. The numerical result is a 7, and it is not an automatic failure because skill checks don't have automatic failures.
3. If we only rank based on numerical result, Alice would be forced to keep the worse outcome because the numerical result of her saving throw is higher than that of Bob's Perform check.
This is absurd. Don't do that.