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Message: <blockquote data-quote="jgsugden" data-source="post: 1481972" data-attributes="member: 2629">We've seen it stated a few times by various WotC folk - there is no penalty for failing a search check. If there were restrictions on taking 10 with search, they'd be mentioned in the search skill description. Taking 10 is fine. It takes no longer than normal.Similarly, taking 20 is allowed. I don't have my book with me, but IIRC, it is even used as an example of taking 20. As a house rule, I added a fourth option for skill checks. By taking thrice the normal amount of time, a careful check may be performed with the PC rolling a d10 and adding 10 to his result. The game is designed so that incredibly careful PCs will pretty much never set off traps, but those PCs will suffer from lost durations on spells and role playing ramifications of taking 20 on searching every sqaure of the dungeon (ie; 15 wandering encounters instead of 2). PCs showing average levels of attention will miss hard traps and find easy traps (taking 10 or rolling for average). Careless PCs that blunder through a dungeon wll set off all traps. Remember: traps are not supposed to be avoided every time they are present. PCs are supposed to set them off sometimes. If they don't, then the traps are meaningless.Also rememeber that PCs can find other ways to locate traps and to avoid their effect. A charm spell can be used to get an enemy to reveal the location of traps. A domination spell can force a foe to set off traps for you. A summon spell can be used as a 'trap locater'. Cleric's have a spell to help them locate traps like a rogue. Some PCs ignore traps - I know of a dwarven monk that used to rely upon his high hit points, high saves, high AC and SR to avoid traps.Using the system I outlined in a post above and with the expectation that PCs will set off some traps unless unreasonably careful, I have no problem with traps in my game. If you're having problems, give it a try and see if it works.</blockquote>

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