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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Scotley" data-source="post: 4618521" data-attributes="member: 11520">One of the things I do like about 4e is the passive skill checks. There are a lot of things that the players can notice without a roll. Some of those things can lead to the kind of roleplayed search I think you are looking for. The problem with 3.5 search in my opinion is that nobody rolls it. They just say, 'I take 20 and search everything'. While that is a legitamate use of the skill, it doesn't make for very satisfiying gaming. At least not to me. I ran into a similar situation in my Tomb of Horror's game. The secret doors can't be opened until the player says the right method. I believe the skill challenge might provide a happy medium between rolls and description. Again this could work in 3.5 as long as everyone is on board. Taking the desk example--you as DM decide that it will take three successes to find a hidden compartment. Search can be one of them, but the players need to come up with some related skill checks, like craft/profession skills carpentry or woodworking, knowledge archetchture could come into play here. Slight of hand might be justified. Perhaps using disable device to partially dismantle the desk. Knowledge local--hey this desk looks like it was made by old bob the crafty. Didn't he always put false bottoms in? Knowledge history, 'hey does anybody remember that story about the chest with the hidden panel where princess lolita Caris kept the letters from Prince Markum? This desk looks like it came from Caris and if I recall a lot of cabnet makers put similar panel in furniture. It was quite a fad for a while there. You can vary the DC depending on how farfetched the attempt is. That could turn into a lot of work for the DM, but it would solve your problem. Once you've done a few skill challenges in 4e it will become easier.</blockquote>

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