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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lanefan" data-source="post: 9630277" data-attributes="member: 29398">The sequence I usually prefer, assuming the PCs are easily able to perceive these features:1. Lighting, if any (if not already obvious e.g. the encounter is outdoors on a sunny day)2. Room or area dimensions including ceiling height when applicable, which always gets forgotten but is often important3. Other exits if the area is a room-cavern-chamber-etc., and whether any doors are open or closed4. (if necessary) Any atmospheric changes e.g. big change in smell, temperature, humidity, etc.5. Static features and-or hazards e.g. major furniture, a hole where the floor has rotted through, significant trees or  undergrowth if outdoors, pools, etc.; also any terrain features e.g. boulders, elevation changes, etc.6. Obvious non-static elements, i.e. any occupants of the area that the PCs can quickly perceiveThe primary time I'll change this is if-when a threat is intended to manifest before the PCs even have time or opportunity to look over the area.  One boxed text from a funhouse adventure of my own, to be read when the PCs open the (only) door to a particular room, reads in its entirety: "It would be far easier to see into this room if there wasn't a huge dragon head blocking your view.  Roll for surprise."  Any further boxed text would be pointless here as odds are high that the dragon proceeds to thrash much of the room's contents into powder during the ensuing combat.</blockquote>

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