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Message: <blockquote data-quote="machineelf" data-source="post: 6394059" data-attributes="member: 6774924">I use an approach that gives four levels of observation of a room (and three levels of searching the room beyond casual observation).Level 1: This is when the characters first enter a room/area. There is no need to roll and no need to do anything but casually observe. This is where the description of the obvious features of the room come in. Example: "The room is this big. There is a bed in the room, and a big rug in the center of the room. There is another door to the north. There is an ogre holding a pie in his hand."Level 2 (Or, level 1 of active searching): The player says generically "I want to search the room." I allow this to mean they look a bit more carefully at the obvious things. They look at the walls, the floor, the ceiling, and all the items of furniture in a general way. They roll for this. If there is something hidden within or under an object, like under the rug or hidden in the pillow on the bed, they have no chance to find it even with a successful roll. But they do find clues that may lead them to hidden doors, and find other details (like scratches on the side of the bed) If they meet the DC.Level 3 (or level 2 of active searching): They say they want to search a particular item or particular area. They roll for this. If they say they want to search the bed more closely, or the rug more closely and they succeed on the roll, I'll let them find the item hidden under the rug or in the pillowcase, or at least give them some kind of description that will lead them to it, to enhance the storytelling. Example: "You notice something lumpy in the pillow." Level 4 (or level 3 of active searching): They specifically say exactly where they want to search, which would lead them right to a hidden item. No need to roll for this. If they say they want to pick the rug up and look under it, they'll find whatever is there with no roll. Or if they say they want to take the pillow and cut it open or squeeze it to feel all around it. They'll find whatever is there. If there is a secret door that swings freely on a pivot, and they say they want to push on the wall exactly where the door is, then they find the door. No roll required.This allows players to both have a sense that they can get a little more involved in the searching and the storytelling, and encourages them to be as specific as possible in their searches. And it also rewards the characters with higher intelligence investigation skill.</blockquote>

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