D&D 5E Passive skills

[mrpopstar]

They actually are in 5e, they just don't call them that. But we've also been discussing them as alternate mechanics.

Obviously, 5th Edition has been inspired by what's come before, but the mechanics simply are not the same.

Passive skills are identical to the old Take 10. That is, you assume the average roll (10) and add the modifiers. The PHB also indicates this "Such a check can represent the average result for a task done repeatedly, such as searching for secret doors over and over again..."

The difference being that there is no time assumption (so, not identical).

Retries = automatic success replaces Take 20, because it's also essentially the same mechanic. The downside is that when it's not tied to a number (20 + modifier), it makes it harder to recognize if it's appropriate. With the new bounded accuracy mechanics, there's a general assumption that there are very few things that are beyond the capabilities of the characters. So this is just a simplification of the old rule.

It's appropriate in all situations where the characters are able to spend ten times the normal amount of time it takes to succeed (which has nothing to do with bounded accuracy).

 

[iserith]

They actually are in 5e, they just don't call them that. But we've also been discussing them as alternate mechanics.

Passive skills are identical to the old Take 10. That is, you assume the average roll (10) and add the modifiers. The PHB also indicates this "Such a check can represent the average result for a task done repeatedly, such as searching for secret doors over and over again..."

Retries = automatic success replaces Take 20, because it's also essentially the same mechanic. The downside is that when it's not tied to a number (20 + modifier), it makes it harder to recognize if it's appropriate. With the new bounded accuracy mechanics, there's a general assumption that there are very few things that are beyond the capabilities of the characters. So this is just a simplification of the old rule.

Ilbranteloth

I think the important distinction is that there is no assumption of a skill check for any action the PCs undertake in D&D 5e. In D&D 3.Xe or D&D 4e, players would choose to "use skills" and the DM was encouraged to allow rolls when the players asked to make them. They could also ask to take 10 or 20 (though D&D 4e only had Take 10). This is not so in D&D 5e. After a fictional action is declared, the DM must decide if its outcome is certain or uncertain. If the latter, then the DM must decide if the task is being performed repeatedly. If it is, then a passive check applies. If it is not, then a regular ability check applies.

Of course, this distinction doesn't appear to stop folks from bringing the D&D 3.Xe or D&D 4e way of doing things into D&D 5e.

 

[Plaguescarred]

What's best when faced with a situation where you want things to be subtle? The DM doing hidden rolls for the player, the DM telling the player to roll but not telling them why or the DM using passive skills?

When i want to keep a check secret, i roll in secret or use passive check. Hidden check are mostly for Intelligenge (Investigation) while passive check mostly for Wisdom (Perception).