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Rolling for Passive Perception
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<blockquote data-quote="GMMichael" data-source="post: 9242337" data-attributes="member: 6685730"><p>This is easy: passive checks don't belong in the game. They're a holdover of 3e ( and probably 4e later) groupthink. Examples, from the 5RD:</p><p></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Searching a room over and over. When is the last time you looked in your glove compartment "over and over" to finally find your registration, or lip gloss? It's either in there, or it isn't. And you're either going to find it (eventually) or you won't. In all of these cases, it's easier for the DM to ask for a roll or two than to worry about what your passive perception is and whether the given DC accurately reflects how the passive perception should behave.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Spotting a hidden monster. This is the assumption, apparently, that a surprise will be ruined if the DM asks a PC to "roll perception," though there is no obvious threat - and inadvertently reveal the threat in the asking. The PCs will detect the monster either before or after it wants to be detected, otherwise it's effectively a non-encounter. So why not just ask the PCs to roll? If they "succeed," they've detected it before it reveals itself. If they " fail, " they don't notice the monster until it wants to be noticed. The DM request shouldn't happen until the PCs are located where the surprise round could go either way.</li> </ul><p></p><p>From OP:</p><p>- PCs enter a room with a hidden net. They're welcome to " look for traps" wherever they stand, but the further they are from it, the higher the DC. If a PC beats the DC, great! Net identified. That doesn't necessarily reveal the release mechanism, though. If they don't look, they get a chance, or "active" roll, to notice something right before it triggers. There's no surprise wasted by calling for the check, because failing the check means getting caught in the net.</p><p></p><p>But if more rolling floats your boat, have at it!</p><p></p><p>Edit: [USER=54364]@DrunkonDuty[/USER] nice pun!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="GMMichael, post: 9242337, member: 6685730"] This is easy: passive checks don't belong in the game. They're a holdover of 3e ( and probably 4e later) groupthink. Examples, from the 5RD: [LIST] [*]Searching a room over and over. When is the last time you looked in your glove compartment "over and over" to finally find your registration, or lip gloss? It's either in there, or it isn't. And you're either going to find it (eventually) or you won't. In all of these cases, it's easier for the DM to ask for a roll or two than to worry about what your passive perception is and whether the given DC accurately reflects how the passive perception should behave. [*]Spotting a hidden monster. This is the assumption, apparently, that a surprise will be ruined if the DM asks a PC to "roll perception," though there is no obvious threat - and inadvertently reveal the threat in the asking. The PCs will detect the monster either before or after it wants to be detected, otherwise it's effectively a non-encounter. So why not just ask the PCs to roll? If they "succeed," they've detected it before it reveals itself. If they " fail, " they don't notice the monster until it wants to be noticed. The DM request shouldn't happen until the PCs are located where the surprise round could go either way. [/LIST] From OP: - PCs enter a room with a hidden net. They're welcome to " look for traps" wherever they stand, but the further they are from it, the higher the DC. If a PC beats the DC, great! Net identified. That doesn't necessarily reveal the release mechanism, though. If they don't look, they get a chance, or "active" roll, to notice something right before it triggers. There's no surprise wasted by calling for the check, because failing the check means getting caught in the net. But if more rolling floats your boat, have at it! Edit: [USER=54364]@DrunkonDuty[/USER] nice pun! [/QUOTE]
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