If you’re walking in on the middle of the Advanced Fantasy Dungeons series, there’s an index here.

Thinking about a common question that will come up with my particular group who was born and bred on fifth edition: How do I make a perception check?

The obvious answer, and — I think — the boring one, is they don’t exist. A better answer is that every proficiency is a lena through which you perceive your surroundings.

“GM, I have proficiency in stonework. I’m going to examine the statue.”

While I’m not opposed to player skill and attention, I am opposed to wilfully withholding information. Information should be easy to find, and I don’t want it gatekept behind one specific roll, but this approach gives the GM an avenue through which they can hand out information, I think.

There is no perception proficiency. If you have a proficiency relevant to your situation, tell the GM. The GM will provide any insight your training might grant in the situation, although they may prompt you to clarify the extent of the insight (“Are you just looking, or do you touch? Smell?”).

I also want a GM facing rule here:

If a PC is using their proficiency to grant insight into the situation, take this as an opportunity to tell them secrets or foreshadow what is to come. Use clarifying prompts (touch, smell, listen, taste as well as sight) to provide them with more information if they agree to follow the prompt.

This is neat, I think. Is it necessary?

This has been a part of the Advanced Fantasy Dungeon Series! Let me know your thoughts on perception, particularly if this short rule is necessary at all!

Idle Cartulary

30th May 2022