Question for solo'ers who play using more "standard" rulesets (D&D, etc.) that include rules for things like perception checks -
If you're playing a system with perception checks and using a GM emulator/oracle to determine what's in a room, for example, do you use both? Switch back and forth when it seems appropriate? Some other solution?
An example of what I'm talking about is something like -
Bob enters the room.
[Ask GME of choice if there's a clue to the mystery Bob's trying to solve in the room.]
[The GME says, "Yes, there is!"]
(Now, in your personal style of play, does that mean Bob finds it, Bob has to roll a search/perception/similar check to see if he spots it, or something else?)
I'm just curious because I'm trying to decide how best to handle situations similar to this without getting too bogged down in rolling numerous times for essentially one thing.
Right now I'm kind of at the point of, "If I were GMing someone else, would they need to roll to find this thing or would I just tell them it was there?", but I kind of like taking as much of the GMing decision making out of my own hands as possible... Thoughts?
Do it the other way.
ReplyDeleteRoll the check (perception, secret doors, whatever) if successful, then ask if there's actually something there.
Or let the check be your guide. If the check is successful, there's always something there. Probably not for use when there's a high chance of success though. But if you're rolling a 1 in 6 search for secret doors, why not just have the door be there if the check is successful?
ReplyDeleteCasey G. A solution so obvious, I didn't see it.
ReplyDeleteI definitely will try it this way, but I still have a problem.
The challenge rating looking for a secret door made by the most skillful of dwarf craftsmen should be (for me) significantly higher than spotting that shiny metal object that bears investigation under a pile of rubble in the corner.
I can think of ways around that and ways to use the simple idea of perception first, is there something there second, like asking the oracle what is there to find and then deciding the CR which would tell me whether the character spotted it or not.
Hmmm... anyway, not something I'm totally hung up on, but the thoughts about how to handle this came up during my last solo session.
Thanks for giving me a possible solution!
Casey G. and yes, this is definitely a solution as well, especially if I decide I have to be somewhat specific in checks as in
ReplyDeleteI scan the woods for any hidden enemies
would not reveal to me anything that wasn't a hidden enemy, for example
Well, I don't do a lot of "dungeon hack" games, but I do use it the way you do. Emulator indicates NPC action, and the key words indicate they are tailing the PC. PC rolls "perception," and if he fails--that's it. The "GM" knows he's being tailed, but not by who or why or what their goal is. Later results will fill in those details as appropriate.
ReplyDeleteOf course, this works fine for my normal contemporary and sci-fi games, where I'm not going room by room through a dungeon like environment.
In such cases, I used a different Oracle method, the location crafter, to determine what's in each room, rather than the standard narrative emulator.
Todd Rokely I definitely need to check out the location crafter.
ReplyDeleteI don't know why but the perception dilemma should be in the FAQ of this community because many people ask this.
ReplyDeleteThe best solution is that exposed by Casey G of course
I honestly vacillate between rolling the check first or determining what's there through charts and/or the Oracle.
ReplyDeleteIf I'm playing something that needs clues, I usually pre-load them into the scene structure. Mythic Variations' mystery theme does this already. For random dungeons, there's usually some kind of Special room contents result. Whether or not these need perception roll varies from adventure to adventure.
When I'm just asking the Oracle, "Is there an X here?", Yes, and... means no Perception roll needed, Yes, but... usually means a perception check, and an unqualified Yes probably only means a perception check if the item in question is easily hidden. No, but... might mean a more difficult perception roll to find traces that an item was once here.
Wait, there's a community FAQ here?!?! Where can I find this? Am I using the wrong method to interface here?! (FAQ would possibly tell me that...) :D
ReplyDeleteI sort of like the idea that perception successes also means that there is something there automatically. Because that means that characters with higher perceptions will be experiencing and finding more hidden stuff even using one roll. And the story molds itself more around a character's abilities or skills.
ReplyDeleteJust about to post this same question one year on, lol. I'm going to try Casey G.'s solution: roll skill check first, and then decide. Thanks!
ReplyDelete