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<blockquote data-quote="Umbran" data-source="post: 2059867" data-attributes="member: 177">Well, remember that it takes 1 round to search a 5'x5' square.&nbsp; There are four of those per 10'x10' square.&nbsp; Takeing 20 uses twenty times as much time as a normal check.&nbsp; So, a 10'x10' square takes 80 rounds (8 minutes - thanks for the catch S'mon!) to search in this manner.&nbsp; When there's nothing going on, this isn't much time per square, no.&nbsp; But it's eternity if you're working on a round-by-round timescale.Simple, realistic things to happen in that time?&nbsp; Simple - combat generally isn't silent.&nbsp; It is actually quite loud.&nbsp; So, if a fight happens in a given room, and the party stops to search, the critters in the next room have time to come and investigate, or to make ready.Tactical situations can change enormously when the opponent has time to get ready.&nbsp; You don't catch them flatfooted, they get a chance to take advantage of terrain, set up ambushes aroudn corners.&nbsp; Taking time to search while there's still active enemies about can and should be a tactical blunder.&nbsp; Imagine what happens if word spreads among dungeon inhabitants (80 rounds is a lot of moves and speaking free actions), so that the party has to fight all of them at once, rather than piecemeal!</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Umbran, post: 2059867, member: 177"] Well, remember that it takes 1 round to search a 5'x5' square. There are four of those per 10'x10' square. Takeing 20 uses twenty times as much time as a normal check. So, a 10'x10' square takes 80 rounds (8 minutes - thanks for the catch S'mon!) to search in this manner. When there's nothing going on, this isn't much time per square, no. But it's eternity if you're working on a round-by-round timescale. Simple, realistic things to happen in that time? Simple - combat generally isn't silent. It is actually quite loud. So, if a fight happens in a given room, and the party stops to search, the critters in the next room have time to come and investigate, or to make ready. Tactical situations can change enormously when the opponent has time to get ready. You don't catch them flatfooted, they get a chance to take advantage of terrain, set up ambushes aroudn corners. Taking time to search while there's still active enemies about can and should be a tactical blunder. Imagine what happens if word spreads among dungeon inhabitants (80 rounds is a lot of moves and speaking free actions), so that the party has to fight [i]all of them at once[/i], rather than piecemeal! [/QUOTE]

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