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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Psikerlord#" data-source="post: 6500482" data-attributes="member: 93321">Imo passive perception is a mistake. It didnt exist pre 3e when take 10 first reared its ugly head. Static trap dc vs static passive perception is just plain broken. As a dm, you know the highest passive in your party... so you know when you set the dc whether the party will see it or not.The only legit reason for passive is to not tip players off to something by rolling (although this is easily avoided using the time honored DM trick of occasionally rolling dice behind your screen for no reason other than keeping the players guessing). In my view you are better off getting players to roll 10 perception checks at the start of a session, and randomly drawing on those if required. Players get to roll, no static check vs static DC problem, and no tip offs.Honestly though, you can play using active perception checks nearly all the time. If the party is about to be ambushed, or spring a trap, does it really matter if you ask them to roll on the spot? Theyre about to find out whats coming in a moment anyway! And in combat, spotting lurkers can be resolved as a contest per DMG, ie perception roll vs stealth roll.</blockquote>