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<blockquote data-quote="airwalkrr" data-source="post: 4533544" data-attributes="member: 12460">I saw the gorilla, but thought it was there to distract me, like el-remmen. Interesting to note though. I've never had a problem with checks to see things. The random roll is supposed to simulate (poorly, but good enough for a game like D&amp;D) factors such as relative darkness, whether you are looking in the right direction at the time, how distracted you are, etc. There are myriad reasons for why you might fail to notice a beholder sneaking up on you. It's not because the beholder is right in front of your face and you are stupid, but rather because you were doing something that precluded you from noticing. Whereas a roll of '20' might indicate you are looking in the right direction and are completely focused, a roll of '1' might indicate you are daydreaming at the moment, or turning your head to discuss something with another party member. The basic idea is very reasonable. The only problem is whether the system is an accurate simulation of such things. Making an argument against the system's accuracy is much easier than making an argument against the underlying rationality of a roll to see something.You might have a point if adventurers had 360 degree vision, but they don't. The case can still be made that a poor roll indicates the character wasn't looking in the right direction at the time. I know there isn't facing in D&amp;D any longer, but that is only a generalization for combat rounds, and it isn't a very accurate one at that. But it sure makes gameplay go a hell of a lot quicker.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="airwalkrr, post: 4533544, member: 12460"] I saw the gorilla, but thought it was there to distract me, like el-remmen. Interesting to note though. I've never had a problem with checks to see things. The random roll is supposed to simulate (poorly, but good enough for a game like D&D) factors such as relative darkness, whether you are looking in the right direction at the time, how distracted you are, etc. There are myriad reasons for why you might fail to notice a beholder sneaking up on you. It's not because the beholder is right in front of your face and you are stupid, but rather because you were doing something that precluded you from noticing. Whereas a roll of '20' might indicate you are looking in the right direction and are completely focused, a roll of '1' might indicate you are daydreaming at the moment, or turning your head to discuss something with another party member. The basic idea is very reasonable. The only problem is whether the system is an accurate simulation of such things. Making an argument against the system's accuracy is much easier than making an argument against the underlying rationality of a roll to see something. You might have a point if adventurers had 360 degree vision, but they don't. The case can still be made that a poor roll indicates the character wasn't looking in the right direction at the time. I know there isn't facing in D&D any longer, but that is only a generalization for combat rounds, and it isn't a very accurate one at that. But it sure makes gameplay go a hell of a lot quicker. [/QUOTE]

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