this post was submitted on 13 Oct 2023
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[–] sammytheman666@ttrpg.network 62 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Players : we open the door Me : ok. How exactly are you proceeding ? Do you touch the handle ? Them fretting for a minute, doing a couple checks, and finally trying the handle Me : the door opens no problems Them : what happens ? Me : nothing special.

Dont worry, I just do it once or twice per dungeon. It helps them remember to check the trapped doors.

[–] Steeve@lemmy.ca 18 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I feel like trap checks should be passive checks or at least called out by the DM, otherwise dungeons can turn into a slog.

[–] sammytheman666@ttrpg.network 9 points 2 years ago (1 children)

If you ask for a passif that isnt improvised then you decide in advance if they can find it and by whom.

I like to ask for die rolls. Because its a die rolling game. If I want them to know something for free without the risk of them failing it I will use passives as an excuse

[–] Steeve@lemmy.ca 6 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Yeah asking for die rolls is a good play, I just think it's boring when you take 10 minutes to open every door because every character has to independently check it for traps lol

[–] sammytheman666@ttrpg.network 7 points 2 years ago

Do like me. Max one check with help or 2 checks for anything. If it fails, try something else. If it really takes too long, next door the trap is obvious and the challenge is to disarm it.

[–] WilloftheWest@feddit.uk 31 points 2 years ago (2 children)

It’s a difficult one to rule, as suddenly being meticulous about positioning and line of sight telegraphs that the players should suddenly be focused on these things. I usually just have them roll luck or try to perceive the threat before they accidentally trigger its ability. If they fail, they get a Medusa blast

[–] CodexArcanum@lemmy.world 26 points 2 years ago

This is probably the best way to generally handle this, but the OP is certainly the funnier option!

I also like to describe random monsters' movement as "shambling" on occasion just to watch them hurl turn undead and other holy attacks at, like, an orc with a limp.

[–] Kichae@lemmy.ca 10 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Pathfinder's Recall Knowledge checks have totally changed my relationship to creatures, in a way that's probably going to hurt me hard in my upcoming 5E crawl.

"Hey GM, can I role Fiend Lore to see if I know anything about this hunk of ugly? I want to know if it'll do bad things to me if I look at it, or if it will take attacks of opportunity."

[–] Feathercrown@lemmy.world 12 points 2 years ago (1 children)

You could always use History checks for humanoids, Nature for beasts, Arcana for aberrations, etc.

[–] Kichae@lemmy.ca 8 points 2 years ago

Good call. I'll petition to do just that! Thanks!

[–] merc@sh.itjust.works 13 points 2 years ago (1 children)
[–] randomwords@midwest.social 7 points 2 years ago

Want to really mess with your players, make a note of who looked and then occasionally ask how many long rests they have taken since they looked.

You may need to split the cardiologist visit bills with them though.