Trap finding...

[Celtavian]

re

Okay. The DC 27 referred to in the OP is to spot the control panel for the trap. Merely to become suspicious that something is amiss the DC for the same trap is only 17.

Now, for the hardest DC at that level, 23% doesn't seem that bad at all. Especially considering that your Rogue isn't even a specialist trap-finder.

My real experience with traps is that they are as easy or hard to find as the DM is sadistic. If you found them all they wouldn't represent a challenge and if you didn't find any what's the point of looking for them? Somewhere between 23% and 60%+ percent to find traps of your level if you are actively looking doesn't seem unreasonable at all.

As far as the no 10' pole thing goes, there will always be creative ways to find traps without perception (unless your DM is sadistic, see above). Having your fighter throw Splug or the corpse of your last enemy down the hall can sometimes do the trick.

So DC 17 to get suspicious? I didn't read that part, but I haven't looked in the DMs Guide to heavily. I gave my DM a heads up to keep an eye out for possible problems, so the trap finders don't feel like it is impossible to find traps.

 

[Aservan]

I don't have a problem with traps being hard to find. Having them go off in a non-lethal way is fun. But disarming them should be the better option to "Hulk Smash!" It isn't. It is much harder to disarm the traps for most parties then it is to simply break them. That is not cool.

Right now most heroic level traps have DC that hover around 20-25. Which means if you aren't a halfling rogue with skill spec don't even try and if you are you need a good roll 4 times before you roll crappy twice.

As others have pointed out that isn't gonna happen.

 

[TK Lafours]

So DC 17 to get suspicious?

That's the level 4 trap. The level 5 trap has just the 22 and 27 DC's. But hitting the 22 is enough to avoid the trigger plates for the trap.

I agree that disarming should be cooler than smashing them but I'm thinking that might be more the problem with skill challenges than anything else.

 

[Dalzig]

That's the level 4 trap. The level 5 trap has just the 22 and 27 DC's. But hitting the 22 is enough to avoid the trigger plates for the trap.

I agree that disarming should be cooler than smashing them but I'm thinking that might be more the problem with skill challenges than anything else.

Yeah, I've changed the "skill challenge disarms" to just having to beat the DC twice. Otherwise, the rogues just sits there... doing nothing... *yawn*

 

[Celtavian]

re

Yeah, I've changed the "skill challenge disarms" to just having to beat the DC twice. Otherwise, the rogues just sits there... doing nothing... *yawn*

We're using a Warlock for disarming traps who isn't focused on Dexterity. That doesn't sound like it is going to be fun for the warlock.