The mechanic of the spyglass item is confusing to me.
Why a penalty to perception per distance to object? Shouldn’t it be a bonus to perception for distant objects?
There’s a penalty to perception checks encoded to an increase in DC per 10 feet in distance, yet the spyglass, an item which magnifies distant objects, gives a penalty to perception per 20ft of distance.
I do understand how nearby objects, say objects within 20ft, would be harder to see (not in the field of focus for the spyglass).
Please, either someone explain to me how this is actually helpful, or help me devise a ruling which works the way a spyglass should work, making distant objects easier to see.
I think it means -1 to Perception per 20’ instead of the normal distance penalty, not in addition to it.
So, remove the increase to DC and replace it with the penalty to the perception roll?
The intent seems to be to reduce the distance penalty by half, wether this is an increase to the DC or a penalty to skill matters little.
Ok, so just not both. Got it. Thanks for the help.