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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Kordeth" data-source="post: 4487576" data-attributes="member: 5036">Passive Perception is just a constantly-active "take 10 on a Perception check." Any information you'd give out if the PC rolled a 10 (before modifiers) on a Perception check, you should give out with passive Perception. You don't "notice something odd, then roll to figure out what's odd," you notice whatever is there to notice (whether or not you understand its significance is another issue altogether, and probably related to Knowledge skills rather than Perception).You notice whatever it is as soon as you can see it and as soon as the Perception DC is equal to or less than your passive check result.Example: A rogue has a passive Perception of 20. There's a secret door in the dungeon whose DC to find is 20. The rogue notices the door as soon as he can see it and comes within 10 squares of it (since when the door is more than 10 squares away the DC is 22).If you want to force players to roll to find something (and bear in mind that's not always the best idea, especially if the hidden doo-dad is plot-critical), set the DC above the highest passive Perception in the group.</blockquote>