Distance At Which Encounters Begin

[werk]

Ah, I get it. So let's say someone in the party has a 12 to Spot. Adding 20 to that is 32 which means 320 feet? Can you take 20 on a Spot check?

Yes, exactly, but if they are hiding, or if there is terrain in the way, that number goes down significantly.

You can't generally take 20 on opposed checks. It was just a 'understanding how the mechanics work' illustration.

The maximum distance rules, which I'd forgotten about, are basically how far apart two things can be before the terrain provides total cover. Keep in mind they are also addressing spot...so while you couldn't spot someone 200 feet away in a forest, you could easily hear them depending on ground cover, etc. It's really up to the DM.

 

[Michael Silverbane]

The rules were excluded from the 3.5e DMG if you have it look in the 3e DMG. A while back Kerrik posted a new spot rule system to handle exactly that. Since I can't find it and the great crash may have erased it I've posted his spot rules here.

They weren't completely excluded, they were just spread out into the different terrain descriptions, rather than being nicely consolidated into a single table.

Later
silver

 

[IanB]

I've always liked the "what fits on the table?" rule for starting distance, myself.

 

[frankthedm]

It's really up to the DM.

Which can utterly bone a PC. Not a few times I had to harp on DMs who tried to start open field based encounters at less than a hundred feet with foes who are not even trying to hide. I did not take the Eldrich spear invocation and a Staff of Fire with my warlock to ignore a foe until it gets to charge range.

Made even worse by many of the other PCs being no-ranged nitwits who act like I'm the bad guy because they fail to pack a decent composite bow. My Farshotting Gestalt Elf Fighter/Wizard had two allies with 2WF & sneak attack. I don't even remember if they owned bows.

 

[werk]

Which can utterly bone a PC.

Absolutely! I've had the exact same experience, albeit to a lesser degree.

The problem is, when I just follow the mechanic IMC, it always seems to be a sneaky PC that gets the spot LOOOONG before anyone else in play. Then it turns into a one-man-show of sneaking and hiding and moving and 'can I do this' and 'do I think I can do that' faldaral.

It's definitely something a DM should consider beforehand.

 

[frankthedm]

The problem is, when I just follow the mechanic IMC, it always seems to be a sneaky PC that gets the spot LOOOONG before anyone else in play. Then it turns into a one-man-show of sneaking and hiding and moving and 'can I do this' and 'do I think I can do that' faldaral.

Sneak attack only happens within 30'. Light arrow fire means the foes take cover and drink their potions. And if he only got lucky on the spot check, he will lose track of the group once they hide

Raising tower shields and advancing negates most arrowfire. The arrow will basically point the way the archer fired from.

Even plains don't have to be terrain free. Sadly too many encounters happen on blank battlemats.

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

I like the rules posted by HeavenShallBurn, but most of the time I use the base distance in the DMG. Then, if both sides fail thier spot they roll again at half that range. Continue until they pass each other in the night, so to speak.

Sadly too many encounters happen on blank battlemats.

T'is sad but true

 

[Haffrung Helleyes]

One thing the rules don't take into consideration is the effect of having a height advantage. In the mountain, someone at a higher elevation should be able to see someone at a lower elevation a mile or more away, not just a few hundred feet.

Ken