
Aureus |

We run Seven Swords as a PBP game and our players have reached room #3. The abjurer casted detect magic on the gold pile and discovered illusion magic. He told the others and the rogue searches the whole room for traps and secret doors and such. The trap description says "If any creature interacts with the illusory hoard, the wall collapses in a shower of rock, dust, and mortar, smashing anyone within 10 feet of it." So when the rogue searches near the illusion it will trigger. But there is a DC stated for finding the trap in the first place (what would trigger it and won't allow a disable device check, as the search trap includes touching if I am asked.
What would you say: does the searching rogue trigger the trap?

Steven Cole |

What would you say: does the searching rogue trigger the trap?
The searching rogue triggers the trap if he fails the search check, or if he's not really searching the area where the trigger lies.
So if he's searching the "whole room" (as you say), and takes a 20, then he finds the trap. Of course, taking a 20 for every 5x5 square can take a long time. Taking a 10 is much faster, but often doesn't find things.
In my games, when the party wants to do a thorough search, the rogue takes a 10 and everybody else does the Aid Another action to boost the search check.
In any event, if the rogue is searching, he likely finds the trap. Since "trapfinding" is a rogue skill spelled out in the rules, I'd assume the rogue must have learned a trick or two about not setting off things while he looks.