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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Justin Bacon" data-source="post: 3154257" data-attributes="member: 3795">I think D20 Modern allowed you to Take 20 on Search checks. In general, I think your ability to successfully Take 20 on a trap search will depend on whether or not your search would trigger the trap. The description of the Search check in the 3.5 PHB suggests that the default assumption is that a failure to find the trap WILL result in the trap being triggered.But, as you say, the best way to handle it is to imagine the results in sequential order.Although even if we accept D20 Modern's decision that you can take 20 without consequence on all Search checks, you've still got a glitch with the designer's belief: The take 20 mechanics are designed to speed up resolutions. Your characters are taking 20 on every single room? That takes even less time than having them actually roll the checks. In terms of time at the game table, the resolution is practically instantaneous.And if they want to make that a part of their SOP -- and you've eliminated consequences from the time spent rigorously searching every inch of a complex by creating a static dungeon (as the designers suggest) -- then it's even quicker: They don't even have to announce. You describe the room and then go on to describe the results of their laborious Search in there.This actually gets back to another trees-and-forest problem the designers are suffering from: They apparently don't want people making Search checks because this "bogs down play". So they eliminate traps.Problem? Traps aren't the only thing that requires Search checks. So in order to stop your players from having their characters search everything they can to make sure they haven't missed anything, your next stops are going to be secret doors, hidden treasures, and the like.You might as well just get rid of the Search skill altogether at that point.Or more broadly: If you honestly think that characters using their skills is so boring, the problem lie with traps -- it lies with the skill resolution system.Frankly, I don't think the system has the problem the designers think it does.</blockquote>

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