D&D 5E Does anyone play 5e Perception rules as written?

[TerraDave]

Disad in dark I use. Passive perception I don’t really use.

But often it’s a normal check. Sometimes perception checks take place with a light source, sometimes they are based on sound.

Sometimes it’s investigation. But perception is certainly a major skill.

 

[Argyle King]

That's usually ruled as active perception

Aka searching.

Sure, the Helping is active; the perception of the helpee is passive.

Except the person "helping" ALSO has disadvantage...

So, I'm not sure how much "help" they'll actually be.

Sure, the helper has disadvantage on any of their rolls -of which there aren't any.

 

[Quickleaf]

Before I began house ruling 5e, yes I played it that way (disadvantage to both active and passive Perception when in dim light, including darkness-to-dim light due to Darkvision). I probably resolved it behind the screen more often as I got tired of reminding players.

Big picture is I'm very glad not to be using the Perception rules-as-written anymore.

 

[EzekielRaiden]

I could be mistaken, but I believe @Hussar does in fact run perception as written in the rules. This has been a problem for us, as IIRC no one in our party has darkvision currently. (My character would, but I chose the thematic option of a non-optimal skill, Athletics, rather than the far more optimal darkvision, for my Custom Lineage character.)

Edit: eventually I'll be picking up the Warlock invocation that gives you super darkvision, but I've had other priorities for the time being.

 

[Kobold Stew]

(My character would, but I chose the thematic option of a non-optimal skill, Athletics, rather than the far more optimal darkvision, for my Custom Lineage character.)

I have a separate-and-opposite rant on how Athletics should be the most important skill of the game (i.e. all adventurers should take it, regardless of their strength), but I'll leave it for now.

 

[EzekielRaiden]

I have a separate-and-opposite rant on how Athletics should be the most important skill of the game (i.e. all adventurers should take it, regardless of their strength), but I'll leave it for now.

The main reason it's non-optimal is that I'm playing a Blade/Tome Celestial Warlock, so my most important stat is Charisma and my second most important is Dexterity. I do have a positive Strength modifier (+1), so my Athletics isn't horrible, but nearly everything I would use Athletics for, I can use Acrobatics for instead, since I'm also proficient with it. I was able to take various non-optimal skills in part because Warlock afforded me some extra skill picks via Beguiling Influence. (Warlock really is my favorite 5e class by a country mile, and Celestial Blade+Tome lets me do pretty much all the things I'd want to do.)

 

[ezo]

I get a weird joy from the fact that even 10 years later, on the verge of an edition update, we are STILL arguing about such a simple and fundamental rule.

Also, "passive" doesn't mean passive,it means "repeated." Passive perception is you actively searching as you go. The rule is there to keep rolling to a minimum.

Agreed. Passive is a HORRIBLE term for this. "Repeated or Secret" is better since the DM can also use it for "secret" rolls.

Sure, the helper has disadvantage on any of their rolls -of which there aren't any.

Yeah, it really doesn't make sense but if you want to play it that way, knock yourself out.

FWIW, "helping" and working together should not be allowed if the people "helping" have disadvantage. I know that isn't the "rule", but I also know most of the rules in 5E are imbalanced, over-simplified, or ill-conceived.

EDIT: I'll go further to say that this one phrase for working together ruins it:

A character can only provide help if the task is one that he or she could attempt alone.

It is a stupid condition, because frankly speaking, anyone can ATTEMPT anything. It makes it a non-issue and superfluous. The condition should be:

A character can only provide help if the task is one that he or she could accomplish alone.

It is a big difference.

 

[Mannahnin]

Yes, I run this RAW when I run 5E. Operating purely by Darkvision is an option in some circumstances (like when you don't need to read), but it comes with tradeoffs and downsides.

 

[Kobold Stew]

FWIW, "helping" and working together should not be allowed if the people "helping" have disadvantage. I know that isn't the "rule",

Yes; I also think you shouldn't be able to help in a skill check if you are untrained.

 

[Reynard]

Yes; I also think you shouldn't be able to help in a skill check if you are untrained.

I don't know. It depends on the circumstance, I think. Being a kid and holding the flashlight for your dad while he fixed the engine definitely helped.

I do think there should be potential for helping to go awry and make things harder, tho.