tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4134750084087927747.post7999117616658156028..comments2023-10-15T06:44:30.195-06:00Comments on Ode to Black Dougal: Rulings Not Rules - Sneaking past a guardP_Armstronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12374589162025099763noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4134750084087927747.post-81996754615078821862010-04-13T16:40:30.283-06:002010-04-13T16:40:30.283-06:00I don't like thinking much when I DM, so I'...I don't like thinking much when I DM, so I'd probably say:<br /><br />Metal armor: no chance.<br />Non-metal or taking steps to be quiet, etc: surprise roll 1-2.<br />Thief: if move silently successful, surprise on a 1-4 (ie cut guard's chances in half). Otherwise, surprise roll.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4134750084087927747.post-39623466977544376462010-04-11T20:12:02.080-06:002010-04-11T20:12:02.080-06:00Check for surprise.
If guard is surprised and PC ...Check for surprise. <br />If guard is surprised and PC isn't then the PC sneaks past.<br />If PC surprised then the PC doesn't sneak past without being noticed.JDJarvishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07691101939920824546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4134750084087927747.post-11570337419237063792010-04-11T15:41:25.800-06:002010-04-11T15:41:25.800-06:00You let them roll, but they appear to sneak past s...You let them roll, but they appear to sneak past successfully regardless of the result.<br /><br />If they have failed the roll, the guard follows them/arranges an ambush <i>if</i> things are going too easily, or have dragged to a halt. <br /><br />Otherwise, just more heroic derring-do.<br /><br />That is, I like to create complications through failed rolls, not task-based failure <i>per se</i>.Vincent Diakuwhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12176340701893887319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4134750084087927747.post-27775922771036800792010-04-11T14:51:13.570-06:002010-04-11T14:51:13.570-06:00If guard is guarding path through door (i.e. looki...If guard is guarding path through door (i.e. looking wrong way) I'd let player sneak with small chance (1 in 6) of "something bad" happening.<br /><br />If guard is guarding down hallway I'd roll moral check for guard. Failure indicating they are asleep, reading orc porn, or otherwise failing at their duty. Again allow sneak with small chance (1 in 6) of "something bad" happening.<br /><br />If guard is guarding down hallway and makes their moral check then it will be very hard to sneak by, 1 in 6 chance of success. Smart players would now start brainstorming on how to distract the guard or achieve their goal via another path.<br /><br />btw if character does something creative that would reasonably work I'd reduce/eliminate chance of bad thing or increase slightly chance of success. Examples are remove footwear to be quiet, leave behind extraneous and noisy equipment, wrap all with cloth and use boot black on face and all shiny bits.Norman J. Harman Jr.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01319655075997712313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4134750084087927747.post-29694806625773503002010-04-11T14:00:23.518-06:002010-04-11T14:00:23.518-06:00The guard is looking at the torch. His pupils are...The guard is looking at the torch. His pupils are shrunk from the light entering his eyes. Assuming this is in a dungeon, I would rule that his vision beyond the torch is impaired.<br /><br />I would therefore give a Thief auto-success, assuming he told me he waited until the guard appeared distracted or otherwise innatentive.<br /><br />For anyone else, their success would depend on how important it was that they get past this guard unnoticed. If it was not terribly important, I might give the Players anywhere from a 2 to a 5 in six chance, depending on the precautions they took, and the armor they were wearing.Aaron E. Steelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07789462075611254929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4134750084087927747.post-44176783988315293922010-04-11T13:47:18.697-06:002010-04-11T13:47:18.697-06:00If the hallway were longer, so that the T-section ...If the hallway were longer, so that the T-section is not illuminated, I'd use the surprise rules. If it is illuminated, a thief would still be able to do it potentially by creating a distraction, then rolling surprise. For a different location and orientation of the guard, a thief could toss a pebble or something to get a guard to look away, but with this arrangement, the distraction probably needs to come from behind, so it's probably going to be magical.<br /><br />Halflings have that special ability to escape notice, so they would be able to attempt it no matter what.Talysmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02162328521343832412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4134750084087927747.post-58532488885297391482010-04-11T13:32:39.951-06:002010-04-11T13:32:39.951-06:00Are we assuming a 30' radius (i.e. 60' dia...Are we assuming a 30' radius (i.e. 60' diameter) of illumination from the torch? And are we assuming the guard is looking toward the passageway, and not distracted? If so, then it appears that the radius of the torchlight extends all the way to the wall of the corridor through which the PC is moving (assuming that the guard is 40' away and the torch is about halfway between them). In interpreting this for a non-thief, I'd use the thief as a base-line and go from there. Given the situation and measurements indicated in the diagram, I'd personally rule that even the best thief would have *no* chance to make it since the thief is using his/her "hide in shadows" skill. I've always taken the "hide in shadows" skill to presume that there *are* shadows, and unless there is an obstacle not shown on the diagram between the torch and the PC to cast a shadow, then there is no shadow in which a thief could hide - s/he is simply moving through torchlight. Using that as a baseline, I'd rule that if a thief cannot do it, there's no way anyone else could. On the other hand, if the guard is distracted, or if the torch doesn't have a 30' radius, or if there is some form of light-blocking obstacle, such that the far wall of the corridor is flecked with shadow, then a thief could certainly attempt it. If said shadow is deep enough to be considered "total blackness" I might even rule that a thief could do it automatically (regardless of level) and other characters could attempt it too (maybe using their own level on the thief table, to reflect their lack of expertise and the possibility that even in a deep shadow they might slip up and let the tip of a piece of equipment flicker out into the light). In any case though, non-thieves would only have a chance at all if they're not wearing metal armor - the sound would give them away. Of course, I present this only as an example of what I'd take into account when making a ruling, and not as what is "right" or "wrong."Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05879583466324279794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4134750084087927747.post-22896828499265187562010-04-11T13:15:43.235-06:002010-04-11T13:15:43.235-06:00Simple:
Thief or halfling: 1 or 2 on a d6
Anyone e...Simple:<br />Thief or halfling: 1 or 2 on a d6<br />Anyone else not wearing metal armor 1 in 6<br />Anyone in metal armor, no chance.Fenway5https://www.blogger.com/profile/14870312188585916750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4134750084087927747.post-61767806212901893212010-04-11T12:48:08.832-06:002010-04-11T12:48:08.832-06:00Well there is a clear success (you sneak across), ...Well there is a clear success (you sneak across), and a clear failure (you are spotted). Now there are two ways I'd do this. <br /><br />1) The thief takes a penalty to his roll, if he fails the guard spots him, and gives chase.<br /><br />2) The thief takes no penalty to his roll, BUT if he fails the guard gets to give chase and gets a free attack.<br /><br />I'd be upfront with both options, because that is how I roll.Justinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00069521955040877788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4134750084087927747.post-17120341939918526242010-04-11T12:28:44.840-06:002010-04-11T12:28:44.840-06:00Is there a chance that the guard has fallen asleep...Is there a chance that the guard has fallen asleep at his post? Or is maybe drunk? What if the PC was a halfling and wasn't wearing any armour?P_Armstronghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12374589162025099763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4134750084087927747.post-90261781367020102642010-04-11T12:24:21.558-06:002010-04-11T12:24:21.558-06:00Honestly, I would rule that it wouldn't be pos...Honestly, I would rule that it wouldn't be possible for the PC to evade detection, considering the circumstances. I'd say that it could only be achieved by a Thief, and that the Thief would have to make a percentile roll that fell under both his Move Silently and Hide in Shadows abilities.KPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18374233546533225028noreply@blogger.com