When do you ask for skill checks?

[Rechan]

Here's something that, with the inclusion of the Passive skills, I'm not sure about:

When do you ask PCs for a skill check? Any skill check?

Do you:

Ask them when it becomes relevant? ("There's a symbol on the door. Make an Arcana check.")

Ask for them only when the PCs prompt you? ("Can I make an Arcana check for the symbol?" "I want to use perception to watch all around us.")

 

[Traken]

When talking about quick glances and room descriptions, I use passive/secret checks. When the players do something actively, they roll.

 

[Rechan]

When talking about quick glances and room descriptions, I use passive/secret checks. When the players do something actively, they roll.

With regards to Perception, why wouldn't PCs always be on alert unless they're actively doing something else (Running awya, chasing something, fighting something, sleeping). I.e. when on adventure or in a dungeon, going from Point A to point B, why wouldn't they be alert?

But that is unrelated to the other matters.

 

[marune]

When there is some risk & reward.

 

[Majoru Oakheart]

With regards to Perception, why wouldn't PCs always be on alert unless they're actively doing something else (Running awya, chasing something, fighting something, sleeping). I.e. when on adventure or in a dungeon, going from Point A to point B, why wouldn't they be alert?

Yeah, but there is a difference between "I am alert" and "I am specifically looking to see something in this particular area."

When I am driving, I am alert to things around me since I don't want to be in an accident and it could be dangerous if I miss something. Although, if I pass a 7-11, I might not notice it was there, since I wasn't looking for it. It got lost in the large number of buildings I passed.

If I was specifically looking for the 7-11, because that was my destination, I'm more likely to find it.

Same things with adventurers, while walking down a corridor, they might be on the alert for monsters hidden in the darkness, but their primary goal is likely to get to the end of the hallway to a specific door. They are slightly less wary about other things because of it.

If someone specifically says "I'm looking for monsters right now" then give them a roll.

 

[Xorn]

As far as Perception/Insight, I use their passive values at all times (general awareness when on alert), unless they specifically want to examine something. Examples:

"While Percy is looking at that chest, I'm going to watch the entrance to the cavern for any new arrivals." (Omar rolls a perception check blindly--I have a little door on my DM screen so they can roll without seeing the result--and if that's better than a passive check for him, I'll use that number.)

or

After describing the room they chased a kobold into as 20x20, rough carved stone, with a smoldering brazier on the east wall, and a pile of leaves and sticks arranged like a bed near it, and some sacks on the northwest corner. You don't see the kobold anywhere in the room. (He fled through a secret door, DC20 to spot it.)

"I'll check the sacks for the shifty bastard." (I have him roll, and describe the bags with more detail.)

"Well if he's not there, then he must have used a secret passage... search the walls for a seam or opening." (I have him roll again, applying a circumstance bonus for his deduction.)

If their ranger had been level 2 (+10 perception) then she would have spotted the door the moment they could look around.

 

[Rechan]

As far as Perception/Insight, I use their passive values at all times (general awareness when on alert), unless they specifically want to examine something. Examples:

Good examples. THough I think that might breed the 3e issue of "I search for traps" being the immediate thing Pcs announce when they enter an area.

What about other skills?

 

[Oompa]

Well if the pc's say they want to do something, let them roll.

If you, the dm knows there is an secret switch in the wall, roll an check for the pc's if any one can spot it when entering the room, when they don't, and they say they are going to search the room, let them specify which place and let them roll..

 

[mjukglass]

I ask for skill checks when there is an interesting outcome of NOT succeeding with a skill check. Why try to unfun the gaming?

 

[Jack Colby]

Here's something that, with the inclusion of the Passive skills, I'm not sure about:

When do you ask PCs for a skill check? Any skill check?

Do you:

Ask them when it becomes relevant? ("There's a symbol on the door. Make an Arcana check.")

Ask for them only when the PCs prompt you? ("Can I make an Arcana check for the symbol?" "I want to use perception to watch all around us.")

Passive is, well, passive. The PCs roll when they actually decide to attempt something actively.