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<blockquote data-quote="MerakSpielman" data-source="post: 1970675" data-attributes="member: 7464">I'd totally agree with this. It is assumed that a character is paying attention to his surroundings. In a dangerous area, characters are assumed to be as alert as possible, including looking up, down, and all around. Lucky for us, though, there's a mechanic built right into the game for this situation! It's called making a Spot check! People with high Spot checks are better able to remember to look around and be aware, just as a matter of routine. This includes looking up at the ceiling. This even includes noticing somebody in a shadowy alcove right above the door after you go in the room, even though he's readying an action to fire a crossbow at your head as soon as you come into the room. Not a normal place to look right away, but somebody who rolls a 35 on their Spot check has successfully remembered to look there and isn't surprised.&nbsp;As far as the well-lit, vaulted ceiling goes, by the rules there is no hiding. Ad-hoc DMing, I'd allow a hide check, but at a significant penalty, perhaps -10. If the ceiling is high enough, you might rule that even though the floor-level is well lit, by the time you go up to the peak of the dome it's only shadowy illumination, allowing a hide check by the rules.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="MerakSpielman, post: 1970675, member: 7464"] I'd totally agree with this. It is assumed that a character is paying attention to his surroundings. In a dangerous area, characters are assumed to be as alert as possible, including looking up, down, and all around. Lucky for us, though, there's a mechanic built right into the game for this situation! It's called making a Spot check! People with high Spot checks are better able to remember to look around and be aware, just as a matter of routine. This includes looking up at the ceiling. This even includes noticing somebody in a shadowy alcove right above the door after you go in the room, even though he's readying an action to fire a crossbow at your head as soon as you come into the room. Not a normal place to look right away, but somebody who rolls a 35 on their Spot check has successfully remembered to look there and isn't surprised. As far as the well-lit, vaulted ceiling goes, by the rules there is no hiding. Ad-hoc DMing, I'd allow a hide check, but at a significant penalty, perhaps -10. If the ceiling is high enough, you might rule that even though the floor-level is well lit, by the time you go up to the peak of the dome it's only shadowy illumination, allowing a hide check by the rules. [/QUOTE]

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