Secret doors - how?

[yu gnomi]

DMG covers basics on pg 65: use highest passive perception versus it's perception DC (well hidden = DC 25 from PHB) for PCs who are simply passing by.

Pg 41 of DMG: searching a room use a 20 result with highest perception among searchers, versus it's perception DC (making a DC 25 "secret" door fairly easy to find)

The DC 25 seems to for what were once known as hidden or concealed doors in older D&D systems. These are doors or trapdoors that blend in with a wall or floor, but probably have a handle or a depression somewhere for a person to push/pull on.

A DM can, and probably should, come up with more secretive types of doors, such as revolving bookcases; walls that slide up, down or sideways, etc. Such doors might require significantly higher perception checks, or may not be detectable with a perception check at all. (although footsteps leading up to them may be detectable).

 

[wedgeski]

One of the time savers in 4th edition is you are now assumed to be alert and looking for things like traps, tracks, and hidden enemies. It's no longer necessary to state explicitly that you are looking for secret doors in every room and hallway. Passive perception is not just 'glancing around a room' I'd treat a time when PCs are explicitly not on alert as taking a 1 on a perception roll.

Not really.

...if you’re walking through an area you expect to be safe and thus aren’t actively looking around for danger, you’re taking 10 on your Perception check to notice hidden objects or enemies.

Being 'alert' indicates Active rolls. Now you have to ask what 'alert' means, and that's in the DM's domain I guess.

 

[Mike000]

I'm just glad 'elves on parade' is gone. Remember when only elves got passive checks to notice secret/hidden doors?