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Passive vs Active Perception...
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<blockquote data-quote="jgsugden" data-source="post: 7329653" data-attributes="member: 2629"><p>Active perception is using an action to use the skill perception. It now has a definition. Congrats. </p><p></p><p>I allow an active perception roll, as a chance to improve upon their passive perception, whenever a situation arises where the PCs are being somewhat attentive - which is basically anytime they are not using their actions for something else and are not enthusiastically discussing something.</p><p></p><p>Examples:</p><p></p><p>* 2 PCs are on watch and the rest of the party is asleep. A monster approaches stealthily. The two PCs get perception rolls, the others use passive perception with a -5 penalty (asleep). The floor for the two active perception rolls is the passive perception of those PCs.</p><p>* 6 PCs are adventuring in a dungeon. They're lined up in three rows of two. The front rank generally gets active perception checks, the rest of the party only gets an active perception check if sound is involved in the check (otherwise a passive check). However, if one of the front ranks is tracking, then only the other PC gets an active check (with the tracking PC having a passive check). If the two front folks are talking back and forth about something, they will only get a passive check (everyone is passive checking). If they're having a heated discussion, they'd get disadvantage (meaning -5 to their passive check).</p><p></p><p>PCs in my games are surprised when they do not perceive or expect the threat. A PC that doesn't see a threat coming, but is expecting it to come, will generally not be surprised - but only if they're expecting that threat. If the threat comes from an unexpected direction, or it is a different type of threat than expected, then a failure to perceive it will mean surprise.</p><p></p><p>I find these rules are easy to implement and work really well. They follow the guidance in the book and subsequent clarifications, as well.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="jgsugden, post: 7329653, member: 2629"] Active perception is using an action to use the skill perception. It now has a definition. Congrats. I allow an active perception roll, as a chance to improve upon their passive perception, whenever a situation arises where the PCs are being somewhat attentive - which is basically anytime they are not using their actions for something else and are not enthusiastically discussing something. Examples: * 2 PCs are on watch and the rest of the party is asleep. A monster approaches stealthily. The two PCs get perception rolls, the others use passive perception with a -5 penalty (asleep). The floor for the two active perception rolls is the passive perception of those PCs. * 6 PCs are adventuring in a dungeon. They're lined up in three rows of two. The front rank generally gets active perception checks, the rest of the party only gets an active perception check if sound is involved in the check (otherwise a passive check). However, if one of the front ranks is tracking, then only the other PC gets an active check (with the tracking PC having a passive check). If the two front folks are talking back and forth about something, they will only get a passive check (everyone is passive checking). If they're having a heated discussion, they'd get disadvantage (meaning -5 to their passive check). PCs in my games are surprised when they do not perceive or expect the threat. A PC that doesn't see a threat coming, but is expecting it to come, will generally not be surprised - but only if they're expecting that threat. If the threat comes from an unexpected direction, or it is a different type of threat than expected, then a failure to perceive it will mean surprise. I find these rules are easy to implement and work really well. They follow the guidance in the book and subsequent clarifications, as well. [/QUOTE]
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