Should Spot checks include looking up?

[Blood Jester]

Absolutely.

I would guess that the DC to spot things that lurk on the ceiling already includes points for their "out of the way nature".

Even so, I (like all of us) live in a world without Darkmantles and the like, and I always look up, indoors or out. I would be shocked if trained/experienced adventurers with Wis scores over 8 would not do the same.

 

[Man in the Funny Hat]

Yes, spot check includes looking up but seeing as how it also involves setting a DC, the DC for things that are "up" should naturally be higher.

 

[Barak]

Having run the WLD past that point..

The first room in which they came up on a Darkmantle on the ceiling, they got a spot check. None of them spotted it, and the thing got the drop on them.

Afterwards, they made a point of looking at the ceiling, and didn't get dropped like that anymore.

 

[diaglo]

there is no facing is this edition. you see 360 degrees now and stop on a dime from a run.

 

[Slife]

there is no facing is this edition. you see 360 degrees now and stop on a dime from a run.

No facing... unless you're flying.

 

[Hussar]

Having run the WLD past that point..

The first room in which they came up on a Darkmantle on the ceiling, they got a spot check. None of them spotted it, and the thing got the drop on them.

Afterwards, they made a point of looking at the ceiling, and didn't get dropped like that anymore.

Funnily enough, this is exactly what happened to us to. Note, the module specifically gives bonuses if you look up.

 

[delericho]

If I'm channelling "The Gamers", I'll say that you don't get to roll "Detect Ambush" unless you specifically state you're expecting an ambush.

If I'm actually answering the question, I'll say, "Yes, of course."

 

[iwatt]

Spot includes looking up. If I was a nasty GM I'd give the beasties a circunstance bonus to hide if they're on the ceiling, but I wouldn't deny the ability to look up to the PCs.

 

[KB9JMQ]

Once as a DM I did not include looking up at the ceiling as part of the Spot check.
I will never do that again. My players about killed me.
Now all Spot checks include the ceiling.

 

[diaglo]

The thread about looting got me to thinking about what should be considered automatic. Some time back, we were playing World's Largest Dungeon.

what do you do for Listen checks?

you can hear things in 3D... 4D if you include time and distance (like thunder)