LordEntrails
Hero
This topic, to me, is one of the hardest to do enjoyably for DMs. Sometimes I do it well and sometimes I don't.
With the chest secret compartment example, I would use perception, passive would be fine or allow an roll as well. And as someone else said, if they made the perception check I would say something like "The lid seems unusually heavy." or "The lid is thicker than normal." Then I would let them do an investigation check.
Similar to searching rooms. I use perception to give hints that something is off and needs to be investigated, "You feel a draft of air on the back of your neck." "You notice that the wall here seems to be a different shade of color."
Then, if the players response is something like, "We search/investigate the room." I will then make the investigation check with disadvantage. If they give it a nominal description but don't name the object or otherwise make detailed accurate description it's a normal roll. If they nail the descriptive act, like "ok, I check the lid testing to see if their is a hidden compartment. I measure the inside and outside, tap around and look for seams or gaps as well as feel for any buttons or parts that I can push, twist or slide." Then I give them advantage on the investigation check.
With the chest secret compartment example, I would use perception, passive would be fine or allow an roll as well. And as someone else said, if they made the perception check I would say something like "The lid seems unusually heavy." or "The lid is thicker than normal." Then I would let them do an investigation check.
Similar to searching rooms. I use perception to give hints that something is off and needs to be investigated, "You feel a draft of air on the back of your neck." "You notice that the wall here seems to be a different shade of color."
Then, if the players response is something like, "We search/investigate the room." I will then make the investigation check with disadvantage. If they give it a nominal description but don't name the object or otherwise make detailed accurate description it's a normal roll. If they nail the descriptive act, like "ok, I check the lid testing to see if their is a hidden compartment. I measure the inside and outside, tap around and look for seams or gaps as well as feel for any buttons or parts that I can push, twist or slide." Then I give them advantage on the investigation check.