Passive Throws?

[Dross]

What I do when I know passive checks will be coming up is the following:

0. I have all PCs' Spot, Listen, and Sense Motive bonuses noted.
1. All players at the table roll a d20 six times, I write down the results.
2. When a passive check is called for, I pick the first roll for each player and add in the appropriate modifiers. Normally, I know beforehand when a "check" will be necessary, so I'll know beforehand which characters notice anything.
2. a) When I feel I'm taking into account the rolled results and metagame too much, I can also just roll a d6 to determine which pre-rolled d20 result I'll pick for each player.

I've used a sheet of paper filled with d20 rolls and just work my way through.
If possible I'll have the Hide rolls marked so it is a strait check. If not then I'll use the sheet for that as well.

 

[Dross]

If you are worried about the players metagaming but still have them roll, just enforce "you continue doing what you were doing before the roll was needed" As a group we've used this.

For other (i.e. Disable Device) "tell me what you will do if you a) succeed, b) fail, or c) iffy result. My standard operating procedure for DD was, Disable roll, check, if all looked good, assume I had succeeded and continue (if not, I just have to take getting splattered ).



Yes the DMG advises the DM to roll, but it really is one of those things that is fine for Players to roll as long as they play the result from the POV of a PC, and not the die roll from the POV of a player.

 

[Empirate]

Sure enough, experienced players can game without metagaming. But I like the effect a surprise can have on the players. Deep down the players know whether they rolled well or poorly on a passive check. Even while they act like they didn't, it rather takes the tension and potential for surprise out of a scene. Don't you like your players just flabberghasted by something springing out of the bushes? You won't get that reaction if the players get even the slightest notion there could be something amiss in their characters' surroundings.

 

[Water Bob]

I was really asking two questions here: (1) Do you perform/allow/maintain passive checks, and (2) if so, how do you implement them in the game.

I think that most people are saying "Yes" to question one, agreeing that there are certainly times in the game where the GM is just not fair to the players unless their characters get an unseen, unknown roll to hear or see a hidden threat.