When is the skill check made?

[FrogReaver]

Um, I was talking to someone else. If we're not talking about the same thing, YOU'RE the one arguing about something we're not talking about

...You are the only one not talking about what everyone else is talking about

 

[Maxperson]

Right - Agreed.

What was actually being discussed in this thread was that there were a few that said casting it 1000 times during an investigation that's taking more than 1 minutes won't give you a +1d4 bonus.

Yeah. I've seen people say the whole activity has to be during the spell duration to get the bonus. I disagree with that. Help is help. It adds. If I'm building a wall and halfway through you come help me, it's going to be done faster(unless you're incompetent) than if I was doing it alone.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Um, I was talking to someone else. If we're not talking about the same thing, YOU'RE the one arguing about something we're not talking about

Nope. They’re right. No one is arguing what you think anyone is arguing.

 

[Maxperson]

The spamming issue is really related to trying to have guidance cover a task that takes longer than the duration of the spell though, not stacking the d4 bonus (if that's what you mean). Like spamming guidance while doing hours of overland travel to get a constant d4 to any ability check that resolves the outcome of a task of foraging.

If you're traveling overland, you are not foraging. If you are foraging, you are not engaging in overland travel. Also, depending on what you are foraging for, it might take you hours(foraging is a slow task) of intensive search in the area before the task is over. I don't really have a problem with them "spamming" the spell, since it's not going to give you all that many more rolls, and it really should help with the foraging checks. It's not as if there's going to be a roll over 30-60 seconds to see if you found anything.

 

[iserith]

If you're traveling overland, you are not foraging. If you are foraging, you are not engaging in overland travel. Also, depending on what you are foraging for, it might take you hours(foraging is a slow task) of intensive search in the area before the task is over. I don't really have a problem with them "spamming" the spell, since it's not going to give you all that many more rolls, and it really should help with the foraging checks. It's not as if there's going to be a roll over 30-60 seconds to see if you found anything.

Foraging is an Activity While Traveling in the PHB and discussed on DMG, p. 111. It can be performed a Slow or Fast pace. It calls for a Wisdom (Survival) check success in which grants the character some food and water.

 

[Maxperson]

Foraging is an Activity While Traveling in the PHB and discussed on DMG, p. 111. It can be performed a Slow or Fast pace. It calls for a Wisdom (Survival) check success in which grants the character some food and water.

So first, that's silly. The game designers have never foraged before it seems. Second, that doesn't contradict what I said about how long it takes. It can still only be one check for many hours of "foraging" travel. If the DM wants to allow checks every few minutes all day, then he has created the spamming mess.

 

[iserith]

So first, that's silly. The game designers have never foraged before it seems. Second, that doesn't contradict what I said about how long it takes. It can still only be one check for many hours of "foraging" travel. If the DM wants to allow checks every few minutes all day, then he has created the spamming mess.

Right, I wasn't refuting the timing and frequency since Travel isn't confined to a period of time, just pointing out that Foraging is a thing as in my example. In my game, if the Travel took more than one minute, then guidance isn't going to be of help in Foraging.

 

[Maxperson]

Right, I wasn't refuting the timing and frequency since Travel isn't confined to a period of time, just pointing out that Foraging is a thing as in my example. In my game, if the Travel took more than one minute, then guidance isn't going to be of help in Foraging.

I get that it doesn't work in your game, but I don't see why it shouldn't be allowed.

 

[iserith]

I get that it doesn't work in your game, but I don't see why it shouldn't be allowed.

Because when taking the rules as a whole into account, it follows that the task must be started and finished within the duration of the spell.

 

[Maxperson]

Because when taking the rules as a whole into account, it follows that the task must be started and finished within the duration of the spell.

I don't see anything in the rules which indicates that. If I start building a wall and halfway through 3 master builders show up to give me guidance, my wall is going to be better than if I did it alone. That far through it might only be +1 or +2, rather than the +3 or +4 if they had been present the entire time, but it will be better quality. I see the spell as similar. It gives a bit of a push, so it doesn't matter if it is to an instant skill check or a longer durational one.