If a tree falls in the forest, and no-one is around to make a Perception Check...

[Uninvited Ghost]

If a tree falls in the forest, and no-one is around to make a Perception Check, does it make a sound? The rules are unclear on this.

[Fromper]

I'm reminded of this:

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0003.html

[wraithstrike]

I am assuming this is making fun of people who need rules for almost everything.

[Stynkk]

Uninvited Ghost wrote:

If a tree falls in the forest, and no-one is around to make a Perception Check, does it make a sound? The rules are unclear on this.

The rules are clear... everyone in the world makes a perception check but takes the appropriate penalties for distance.

[Talonhawke]

yes it makes a sound and of course any dieties with appropriate portfolios are alerted to the event and can sense it remotely.

[Uninvited Ghost]

Stynkk wrote:

Uninvited Ghost wrote:

If a tree falls in the forest, and no-one is around to make a Perception Check, does it make a sound? The rules are unclear on this.

The rules are clear... everyone in the world makes a perception check but takes the appropriate penalties for distance.

Unless you're actively TRYING to hear a tree fall in a forest...

Perception wrote:

Action: Most Perception checks are reactive, made in response to observable stimulus. Intentionally searching for stimulus is a move action.

[Stynkk]

Uninvited Ghost wrote:

Perception wrote:

Action: Most Perception checks are reactive, made in response to observable stimulus. Intentionally searching for stimulus is a move action.

Technically, this is valid for a passive perception check :). The sound is just so faint its imperceptible.

[Eridan]

Gods of earth and nature hear this without a perception check.

[fictionfan]

Trees make perception checks.

[DeathQuaker]

Uninvited Ghost wrote:

If a tree falls in the forest, and no-one is around to make a Perception Check, does it make a sound? The rules are unclear on this.

Only if you have epic levels.

Of course, the guide to 20+ play hasn't come out yet (and may never will), so until now, this ruling will have to be agreed upon by you and your GM.

If this issue is so controversial in your gaming group, please remember to discuss it with everyone involved civilly outside of game, and not passive-aggressively in game by summoning a bunch of treants to attack the PCs of the players who disagree with you.

Good luck, I hope you find something that works, please let us know how everything turns out.

[Nebelwerfer41]

Uninvited Ghost wrote:

If a tree falls in the forest, and no-one is around to make a Perception Check, does it make a sound? The rules are unclear on this.

Yes, it makes a sound. Afterwards, it is prone and cannot stand back up because it lacks legs.

[Fromper]

fictionfan wrote:

Trees make perception checks.

Exactly. A later Speak with Plants spell can interrogate the surrounding trees (it is a forest, after all) about how the first one fell.

[Turin the Mad]

"Many millions of moons ago, the First Tree fell."

[Mergy]

Nebelwerfer41 wrote:

Uninvited Ghost wrote:

If a tree falls in the forest, and no-one is around to make a Perception Check, does it make a sound? The rules are unclear on this.

Yes, it makes a sound. Afterwards, it is prone and cannot stand back up because it lacks legs.

That's ridiculous.

Trees are immune to being prone to begin with because of their lack of legs!

[blackbloodtroll]

Treebeard disagrees.

[Reecy]

We have to take into account several things:

1. Size of the tree
2. Speed at which the tree fell
3. With enough mass and speed did this tree shake the ground
4. How big was this tremor was it enought cause a catagory 10 earthquake?
5. Then we need to know what alignment of the planets on the day in question. So we can determine the speed that sound was bounced, so that we can determine the atmospheric pressure, and so that we can determine the distance at which the sound vibrated the molecules of the air.
6. We need the equation for mass x Speed= Force.
7. If we give this project to micheal Bay it would probably be seen heard and shaken on every plane of existence followed by an explosion that can only be explained by Micheal Bay himself.
8. We need to remember Chuck Norris hears everything.
9. What the wind velocity for that day.
10. Was the tree able to tweet or Facebook his status at all before after or during the fall.

[Lochmonster]

My playgroup had a similar issue when we could not find the rules for GM's Discretion.

[JHFizban]

Wait, wait... why is the tree making a Balance check in the first place?

[Mergy]

JHFizban wrote:

Wait, wait... why is the tree making a Balance check in the first place?

Perhaps someone cast grease on it?

[Michael Johnson 66]

If there is a displacer beast in a closed box that will kill the displacer beast if it is opened, is the displacer beast alive, or dead?

[Reecy]

Uh not if the box is like a Displacer Beast in the box... You crank the handle till jumps out landing on your face and then you are dead the displacer beast lives to fight another day.

[Laurefindel]

Uninvited Ghost wrote:

If a tree falls in the forest, and no-one is around to make a Perception Check, does it make a sound? The rules are unclear on this.

Off course it does.

The way the rules work, the tree makes noise by default (lets say DC 0 Perception check to notice) but everyone gets a -1 penalty for each 10 feet from the tree.

So at 400+ feet from the tree (that would be roughly my neighbor across the street), chances are that you can't hear it fall (or see it fall for that matter).

'findel