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<blockquote data-quote="Swarmkeeper" data-source="post: 8478998" data-attributes="member: 6921763">I make all rolls in the open.&nbsp; Hidden dice just don't work for our table.&nbsp; Ok, non-combat.&nbsp; If I want the NPC scout to succeed without a check because the PCs were not engaged in any actions that could possibly spot said NPC, I would simply make it so.&nbsp; If I decided an ability check contested by passives were appropriate, because the PCs were engaged in actions that could possibly spot said NPC, my stakes (which I would not tell the players, like I typically do when they are called to roll an ability check for their PCs) would be something like:&nbsp; if the NPC succeeds, a noise or a flash of reflected light occurs nearby; if the NPC fails, they are clearly spotted by one or more PCs.&nbsp; On that success, something is telegraphed to the players, but they need to determine what their PCs do next as that clue could be an ambush or a squirrel or a single sneaky NPC.Sure, I could look up Passive scores on D&amp;D Beyond or collect them ahead of time and have a post it note on my screen.&nbsp; The way I DM, though, that's just extra effort I don't need to put in, though.&nbsp; Kinda like how I have now outsourced awarding inspiration for playing to the TIBFs to the players.&nbsp; Too much for this one DM to keep track of.&nbsp; YMMV.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Swarmkeeper, post: 8478998, member: 6921763"] I make all rolls in the open. Hidden dice just don't work for our table. Ok, non-combat. If I want the NPC scout to succeed without a check because the PCs were not engaged in any actions that could possibly spot said NPC, I would simply make it so. If I decided an ability check contested by passives were appropriate, because the PCs were engaged in actions that could possibly spot said NPC, my stakes (which I would not tell the players, like I typically do when they are called to roll an ability check for their PCs) would be something like: if the NPC succeeds, a noise or a flash of reflected light occurs nearby; if the NPC fails, they are clearly spotted by one or more PCs. On that success, something is telegraphed to the players, but they need to determine what their PCs do next as that clue could be an ambush or a squirrel or a single sneaky NPC. Sure, I could look up Passive scores on D&D Beyond or collect them ahead of time and have a post it note on my screen. The way I DM, though, that's just extra effort I don't need to put in, though. Kinda like how I have now outsourced awarding inspiration for playing to the TIBFs to the players. Too much for this one DM to keep track of. YMMV. [/QUOTE]

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