In reading up on skills, I often see folks say that perception is the best skill in the game. Do folks have any suggestions on the best ways to get good use out of this skill that might be outside of the norm for newer players?
Perception is the best skill in the game, cuz it helps you spot the invisable stalker sneeaking up behind you while you are on watch...
Perception is the best skill in the game, cuz it helps you spot the good loot before your fellows...
Perception is the best skill in the game, cuz it helps you hear the wispering of the mad king through the closed door...
and in an almost infinite number of other situations
Thanks for the tips! To be clear, I 100% agree that it is the best skill. Do people generally roll it non stop, randomly, or mainly in certain situations? I am just trying to learn more so I can get the most out of this amazing skill!
As a GM, I usually have people roll around 10 d20s, at the start of the game for various passive skill checks, and have their skill ranks noted.
So when a perception, survival or knowledge check (or anything really) that I don't want them to know about, I just use the next d20 roll on the list.
Most of the time, I'll have them rolling for themselves.
As a player, I roll perception, whenever the GM tells me to.
That is really interesting. Do you have them just straight up roll d20s (with no bonuses) at the beginning or tell them to roll 2 perception, 2 survival, etc.?
That is really interesting. Do you have them just straight up roll d20s (with no bonuses) at the beginning or tell them to roll 2 perception, 2 survival, etc.?
Straight up rolls. I apply the skill bonusses to the next number on the list, whenever a passive skill check comes up.
So they will not know which results are applied to which kind of rolls (and neither will I in advance).
The way I handle perception is that unless the PC tells me they are actively searching I give them a take 10. I do not tell them to roll unless they actively search because this can cause problems with metagaming. I think about the take 10 as passive observation or listening.
When searching I do have them roll, or they can take 10 if they meet the normal requirements, or even 20 if they decide to spend the required time to do so.
I also ask my players for copies of their character sheets so I know what their skills and ranks are.
In my games, the characters are assumed to take 10 on their perception checks, unless the players state they are looking for/listening for/whatever something, and then they roll perception instead. Half the time its better, half the time its not :)
-Nearyn
This is all great. Thanks for the ideas everyone!
Anything sherlock holmes does pretty much
RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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In my understanding, there are certain Perception checks which are "automatic" and others that require you to spend a move action to search for something.
For the automatic ones, I can respect some GMs' desire to preserve the mystery by pre-rolling some d20's and doing stuff behind the scenes, but I've never seen the need (perhaps I'm lucky with my player base?) to spend that much work. I just say "Okay, everyone make a Perception check." On the rare occasion that someone metagames that they missed something, I'll point it out to them and it's really not a big deal.
For searching, you've got to announce it. I've had games where a PC checked every door EXCEPT the one with a trap on it, so they blundered right into it.
As a GM, I usually have people roll around 10 d20s, at the start of the game for various passive skill checks, and have their skill ranks noted.
So when a perception, survival or knowledge check (or anything really) that I don't want them to know about, I just use the next d20 roll on the list.
Most of the time, I'll have them rolling for themselves.As a player, I roll perception, whenever the GM tells me to.
Why go through the effort of generating a pool of dice when you're just going to fudge the results anyways?
Why go through the effort of generating a pool of dice when you're just going to fudge the results anyways?As a GM, I usually have people roll around 10 d20s, at the start of the game for various passive skill checks, and have their skill ranks noted.
So when a perception, survival or knowledge check (or anything really) that I don't want them to know about, I just use the next d20 roll on the list.
Most of the time, I'll have them rolling for themselves.As a player, I roll perception, whenever the GM tells me to.
Where did I state that I intended to fudge the rolls?
I am not really sure, where you get that from.That said, rolling a bunch of dice at the beginning doesn't require more of an 'effort' than rolling each time they are needed.
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RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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That said, rolling a bunch of dice at the beginning doesn't require more of an 'effort' than rolling each time they are needed.
I dunno, writing them all down seems like an extra step to me. Plus, doing the checks behind the scenes means I'm doing the math instead of letting my players do that for me.
Seems like extra work to me, so I don't bother with it.
I've seriously considered pre-rolling initiative, though...
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Perception is the best skill in the game, cuz it helps you spot the invisable stalker sneeaking up behind you while you are on watch...
Perception is the best skill in the game, cuz it helps you spot the good loot before your fellows...
Perception is the best skill in the game, cuz it helps you hear the wispering of the mad king through the closed door...
and in an almost infinite number of other situations
At at high enough levels it lets you hear the whispering of a mad god through the cracks of reality. Always whispering, like it's talking just to you, and it never stops, not even to let you sleep... >.>
Or is that just me...