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Message: <blockquote data-quote="iserith" data-source="post: 6808133" data-attributes="member: 97077">Here are some examples showing different goals and approaches to the situation and adjudication for each based on what I have been saying thus far in this thread.Scenario: The characters are exploring the secret underground laboratory-dungeon of Auric Gnomefinger, a villainous artificer known to make use of illusions. Having just defeated his tuxedo-wearing owlbear butler, Hootsworth, they have acquired a partial map of the dungeon which shows a wide chasm cutting through it, but no bridge or other means to get across it.Player 1: Khegg Steadfast leads the way through the dungeon toward that chasm, feeling like a million gold after getting the deathblow on that ridiculous fedora-sporting owlbear. I'm keeping an eye out for any hidden threats.Player 2: I've got the map. Wanda Curelight will navigate so we don't get lost. "It's this way, Khegg."Player 3: Percy Sly will also keep an eye for hidden threats. "Let us make haste. If we don't catch him soon, Gnomefinger will activate the Doomsday Device."DM: What about you, The Ritual?Player 4: As a fellow fey, I expect gnomish trickery in the form of illusions. Using my keen elven eyes and my knowledge of all things arcane, I'm going to scrutinize everything important for the telltale signs of illusions as we move through the dungeon.DM: Okay, so two of you on watch for danger, one navigating, one investigating for illusions. Wanda and The Ritual, you run the risk of being surprised outright if there are sneaky monsters about. What's your passive Investigation score, The Ritual?Player 4: Let's see, I'm proficient in Investigation and my Int is 16, so 15.DM: After a while of traversing winding corridors and homogeneous chambers, you find the chasm marked on your map. The far side, some 30 feet distant, is reachable by way of an ornate and sturdy-looking bridge that spans the gap. The bottom is somewhere in the darkness below, beyond the range of your light and vision.Adjudication: The Ritual is performing a task of searching for illusions repeatedly. The DM has decided that being on watch for illusions, but not physically interacting with them makes the outcome uncertain. Therefore, this is a good place for a passive check to decide the outcome. The DM sets the DC at 14, just short of medium difficulty, because that is Auric Gnomefinger's spell save DC and this seems reasonable as it was his Illuso-Matic invention that created the illusory bridge. The Ritual's passive Investigation score beats the DC.DM: Something about the way the bridge casts a shadow in Wanda's light catches your eye, The Ritual.Player 4: "Hold, Khegg - go no further. I sense gnomish trickery about this bridge..."[HR][/HR]Player 1: Khegg Steadfast leads the way through the dungeon toward that chasm, feeling like a million gold after getting the deathblow on that ridiculous fedora-sporting owlbear. I'm keeping an eye out for any hidden threats.Player 2: I've got the map. Wanda Curelight will navigate so we don't get lost. "It's this way, Khegg."Player 3: Percy Sly will also keep an eye for hidden threats. "Let us make haste. If we don't catch him soon, Gnomefinger will activate the Doomsday Device."DM: What about you, The Ritual?Player 4: "Yes, look lively." I'll keep an eye out for danger as well.DM: Okay, so three of you on watch for danger, one navigating. Wanda, you run the risk of being surprised if some sneaky monsters come calling.Player 2: The light will see me through.DM: After a while of traversing winding corridors and homogeneous chambers, you find the chasm marked on your map. The far side, some 30 feet distant, is reachable by way of an ornate and sturdy-looking bridge that spans the gap. The bottom is somewhere in the darkness below, beyond the range of your light and vision.Player 2: "This bridge is not marked on the map."Player 4: "Hmm, perhaps it is more gnomish trickery afoot." From a safe distance, I examine the bridge for the telltale sign of illusions, using my keen elven eyes and knowledge of things arcane.Adjudication: The DM has decided that investigating illusions, but not physically interacting with them makes the outcome uncertain. The DM sets the DC at 14, just short of medium difficulty, because that is Auric Gnomefinger's spell save DC and this seems reasonable as it was his Illuso-Matic invention that created the illusory bridge.DM: Let's see an Investigation check, The Ritual.Player 4: *rolls* 12.DM: Other than Wanda's mention of it not being on the map, you discern nothing unusual about the bridge. The clank of metal and the sound of heavy footsteps alerts you to the approach of a squad of Gnomefinger's inept guards coming from the corridors behind you. Their echoing voices indicate they are arguing with each other about which way you went, but they'll no doubt be here soon. What do you do?</blockquote>

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