D&D 5E Hidden Player rolls?

[jgsugden]

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My only problem with passive perception is comparing Passive Perception to static DCs, as suggested in the Starter Box. I'd rather make it an actual roll, so even terrain features and items "hide" against passive perceptions. Then, in my experience, it works alright.

One potentially complicating factor here would be if there were a bonus to passive perception scores that did not apply to non-passive scores...

 

[Shiroiken]

To the OP: Rolling in the open is ok at my table. My players enjoy the RP challenge of a bad roll. "I rolled a Nat 1 insight? oh crap. ok, DM, my character not only thinks the guy is drunk, but is mentally ill and drunk!". You know your players best, but in 5th edition, try awarding an inspiration for those who embrace the failed roll ...

Yea, my group does this too. I just had a 2E session where the Psion kept rolling a 20 to sense magic... which meant that everything detected as magic. Since the party was terrified of magical traps, they kept casting Dispel Magic to try and get rid of it, even though every player knew what was going on

 

[Sadrik]

You could give them a passive stealth check and then roll perception against it. I think this is a good solution if your players use player knowledge for their PCs.