[Perception] vs Secret / Concealed / Well-Hidden Doors

[delabarre]

P. 68 (Perception) says that the base Perception DC for a "concealed door" is 15 and a "secret door" is 20. P. 305 (Doors) says that the DC for a "secret door" is 20 (Okay) and a "well-hidden secret door" is 30 (huh?).

What is the actual distinction between a "concealed door", a "secret door", and a "well-hidden secret door", aside from DCs? Do these distinguish between doors that blend seamlessly into their walls (secret) versus doors behind hanging tapestries (concealed)?

[Brutesquad07]

Concealed doors are usually the kind with tapestries in front of them, Secret doors are the kind where you hide your cookie jar, not easily found. Super Secret doors are the kind the CIA uses to hide their recording devices in the back of your closet ;)

[Kalyth]

delabarre wrote:

P. 68 (Perception) says that the base Perception DC for a "concealed door" is 15 and a "secret door" is 20. P. 305 (Doors) says that the DC for a "secret door" is 20 (Okay) and a "well-hidden secret door" is 30 (huh?).

What is the actual distinction between a "concealed door", a "secret door", and a "well-hidden secret door", aside from DCs? Do these distinguish between doors that blend seamlessly into their walls (secret) versus doors behind hanging tapestries (concealed)?

I would just consider it a rating of quality of the contruction of the secret doors and how much effort was put into concealing it. The DC 20 might be a simple sliding panel that could show signs of scrapping and worn paint. While the DC: 30 would perhaps reflect that the architecture of the room was also designed in such a way as to creat shadows and contures that further obfuscated the panel as well as padding to prevent scuffing of the panel itself as it slides open and closed.

What I find strange is that I can find that super secret hidden door (DC: 30) as a wizard but have no chance of ever finding that only slightly hidden crossbow trap (DC: 22)?

[Brutesquad07]

Kalyth wrote:

What I find strange is that I can find that super secret hidden door (DC: 30) as a wizard but have no chance of ever finding that only slightly hidden crossbow trap (DC: 22)?

True, but that has been discussed quite a bit also. Here is a Link to just one of those many discussions.

As for Secret Doors, they are really just all variations of the same. They are not obviously doors. Depending on the intent and skill of the craftsman who made them they are easy to find (concealed door DC 15), a Secret Door (DC 20) or something even harder to notice (DC 30) I use DC's from 15 ish all the way up to 30 ish depending on the adventure I am running and the party that is running through said adventure.