Trap searching

[Kevin]

How should we handle trap searching? It is going to get very tedious if we have to roll a search check every 5 feet, but if we don't, we are going to be spending more time trying to figure out how to get out of pit traps, or scraping someone off of spikes, or sweeping up someone's charred remains, etc...

One idea could be to have us make a search roll, and then that roll is active until we encounter a trap. At that point, we either find the trap (if the search roll was high enough) or trigger it (if the search roll was too low). One problem I can see with this method is that if we make a low roll, we're not going to want to trust it.

Another option could be to have Joel roll our search check behind the screen and let us know if we find or trigger anything as it comes up. I suggested this idea to him, but he wants us to have to remember to make our checks.

What are your guys' thoughts?

[Therrian]

I don't think it is that tedious to state that you are searching for traps when you enter a room or hallway rather then every 5 feet, at that point I can make the roll secretly (which I should be doing for things where a low roll on your skill check would cause caution) and the results will play out.

[odin]

I'm fine with whatever Joel is comfortable with.

It should be expected that we actually remember to say explicitly that we're going to search for traps. It's really up to Joel if he wants us to do it square by square or a "one roll for an area" basis.

The search skills does say that you must be within 10ft of an object to make a search, so maybe deal with it in a 10 x 10 area. I know it seems tedious, but the game is designed for the players to make checks, so we must make checks. Tedious or not, if we're interested in the preservation of our characters, I'd rather make rolls than fall onto spikes. Still, Joel can alter the rules to make it more streamlined if our progress is deemed to be too tedious.

On a somewhat related note, 4th Edition deals with this by introducing passive search and spot checks. You add +10 to your skill rank and if that number reaches the search/spot DC then the player is alerted to something of interest. The item is not revealed, but you are alerted that there is something more in the area; up to DM for whatever flavour/hints/info to give. You then have the ability to make an intentional and focused check to learn something specific. I'm not sure if that can actually be adapted for 3.5, but it would make for less cautionary rolls and wouldn't reveal anything hidden unless we actually succeeded on an intentional roll.

Personally, I don't mind rolling. It is on us to survive, keep aware, and proceed with caution.

[Kevin]

Feb 24, 2011 20:05:36 GMT -5 Therrian said:

I don't think it is that tedious to state that you are searching for traps when you enter a room or hallway rather then every 5 feet, at that point I can make the roll secretly (which I should be doing for things where a low roll on your skill check would cause caution) and the results will play out.

This sounds like a good compromise. Do we each get a check, just the lead person, the person with the highest search check, whoever says they search, or something else?

[Therrian]

Whoever is searching, and at times I may ask for specific movement through the room if I need to know specifically which person is going to hit the area...same applies for secret doors and what not.