Tracking

[iwatt]

I'm pretty clear on how to track using Survival. The DCs and circumstance modifiers are very simple and easy to use. But I do have a couple of questions:

1) How does a character find the initial tracks: A spot check, a search check, a survival check?

2) Is the check for tracks passive or active?

3) If passive, is there a modifier for been distratcetd (like with spot and listen)?


That's it. I's apperciate any help, since I can't find any clear refernce to this in the books. Maybe it's really obvious and I'm just not getting it?

 

[AGGEMAM]

The feat and skill description already answers your questions.

TRACK [GENERAL]
Benefit: To find tracks or to follow them for 1 mile requires a successful Survival check. You must make another Survival check every time the tracks become difficult to follow.

Normal: Without this feat, you can use the Survival skill to find tracks, but you can follow them only if the DC for the task is 10 or lower. Alternatively, you can use the Search skill to find a footprint or similar sign of a creature’s passage using the DCs given above, but you can’t use Search to follow tracks, even if someone else has already found them.

SURVIVAL (WIS)
Check: ..Survival does not allow you to follow difficult tracks unless you are a ranger or have the Track feat (see the Restriction section below).

Action: .. A Survival check made to find tracks is at least a full-round action, and it may take even longer.

Try Again: .. For finding tracks, you can retry a failed check after 1 hour (outdoors) or 10 minutes(indoors) of searching.

Restriction: While anyone can use Survival to find tracks (regardless of the DC), or to follow tracks when the DC for the task is 10 or lower, only a ranger (or a character with the Track feat) can use Survival to follow tracks when the task has a higher DC.

 

[iwatt]

I knew I'd eb embarrased I think what cause it was the line about search and the fact rangers get search as a class skill. I was thinking it was one of those cases were a PCs got to sink skill points into 2 different skills to do one thing.

Thanx

 

[AGGEMAM]

Hey, don't be embarrased. It's a perfectly legitimate question, and one which many could benefit from getting answered .. so thank you for asking it!!!