[sblock=OOC Group Stealth]
I agree with this. I actually think it's more realistic to use group checks in situations such as Stealth. If you look at how stealth actually works, a lot of the skill that comes with experience is when to duck, where to hide, how to hunker, etc. An experienced leader can keep an inexperienced group much better hidden than they could be on their own.
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[sblock=Stealth]
That I don't disagree with at all, my own real life experience (as a group leader) comes from my time in the British Armed Forces, and the guy with with 90lb bergen and/or the GPMG (or just foolishly stowed mess tins) tends to stick out or sound off like a kitchen falling down the stairs.
And in the example we're in at the moment you are moving down a set of stairs effectively in the open with nothing to 'duck', 'hide' or 'hunker' behind.
My point being a guy in Full Plate and Heavy Shield, metal Helm and heavy weapon just plain clanks, and would in any reality make noise just by moving...
Regardless, this isn't a deal breaker, some guys on the battlefield are good at stealth, they tend to move away from the clanky people in order to be stealthy- which is why Kali and Kyalia went for a wander and you guys stayed put. Basically that's there thing, in the same way that the clanky person gets to be trained (5 points) in Intimidate and Athletics and wallop around shouting and being macho, that's why Larry rolled his intimidate check.
I'm not saying there's not a between phase I'm just saying you have some clanky individuals and no amount of shushing is going to solve their problems, part of the -4 to their Stealth checks is the encumberance- they don't bend well to hunker, nor do they duck- or at least not without sounding like someone hitting a saucepan with a spoon.
Our stealthy guy gets to put his faith in not doing that- trained in Stealth, Bluff and Acrobatics he goes ahead of the bunch and does what he does best.
Assassins tend not to travel in packs, if they do- they all wear black pyjamas.
In my time in the forces then all of my guys, if we were trying to be stealthy, tended to be stripped to the bone and moving low and light (and fast where possible). We'd hide what equipment we didn't need- no one wore Plate, and we never made group checks.
On the other hand if we were not being stealthy I used to recommend air support and an APC to keep dry in and smoke.
Here's the thing, we'll go with lowest for the moment, if you are seriously down on it then we'll try the Group Method, but I honestly like the danger that metal man brings to you... Also the group method is going to be me rolling for all of you again isn't it...
The other obvious thing is the guy in the plate would in reality have to have someone show him where to step et al every stride he takes (between encounters too). That's mostly why they stuck those guys on horses- walking in armour is an issue, thank heavens we're in fantasy land.
Lowest check goes for now, stealth is somebody's thing- don't take their thing away from them, it's theirs. As I said previously I'll mitigate for this by getting you in close where I can, I promise.
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