Any result over 10 is better than "average" and means a typical person would more likely not notice someone with a 14. Such a result would be more like just a bit of armored elbow poking out from behind the tree. As the image shows, you may as well be saying that Formula One cars are slow because fighter jets exist.
Eh, 10 is average for an untrained commoner. As an untrained commoner myself, I don't know that I'd do all that well at hiding in the woods, carrying a traveler's pack and wearing paladin armor...
To keep it zoologically on theme: https://imgc.allpostersimages.com/img/posters/black-bear-hiding-in-forest_u-L-PZVM640.jpg?artPerspective=n
Fun fact: One of the most recent times I've encountered a bear out on a hike it looked like that. Of course I didn't see it until I got within like 12 ft (~3.3 meters) of it.
We scared the shit out of each other. Basically I saw it and hollered, "Holy shit a bear!" and froze.
Whereas the bear when I hollered the bear looked at me and took off like, "Holy shit a human!"
Fun times, be safe in the woods y'all and be sure your glasses are clean so you can see critters before you're about to step on them.
I think you are unknowingly agreeing. Having hiked with typical people most would not notice that bear until it moved, made a sound, or was pointed out by someone paying above average attention.
As an avid hiker, I agree
The amount of animals I've pointed out to people I'm hiking with that are hidden this well or worse is astonishing
In one of my other comments I told a fun little story about one of my many encounters with bears on hikes
A typical person not looking for the paladin, yes, they wouldn't notice that person. (Passive perception.)
Guards who are actively looking for infiltrators? They might very well do that, especially if there are multiple guards. (Rolled perception checks.)
| Guards | EV of highest roll (no mods) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 10.5 |
| 2 | 13.7 |
| 3 | 15.25 |
| 4 | 16.2 |
Hot take: group stealth checks are bad. Using a clock or 'x strikes until alarm is raised' is a lot better.
In my group often times I'll do a group stealth check most of the time but if someone gets detected it can quickly turn into a problem solving encounter
Basically there's going to be like 1 person who tries to run and alert others and they have a small window to incapacitate that person to maintain their stealth even if someone in the party failed their check
Last session the party snuck into a cultist encampment, the ranger blew their stealth check while the rest of the party made theirs. The passive perception of the cultists wasn't an issue for the most part until a cultist finally saw the ranger but before the cultist could say something the rogue made a stealth attack on the cultist so even though the ranger got a really low score he basically became a distraction for the other party members.
They got pretty deep into the encampment (and had a couple close calls) before the alarm ended up getting raised because of the bold ranger stepping into a tent failing to check inside.
Fun session overall, the ranger had a night where all of his combat rolls were gold but his skill checks were crap.
Literally had a moment that boiled down to:
DM: "The cultist sees you and asks, 'Who are you and what are you doing here?'"
Ranger: "I'm new to the order and I'm trying to find the boss to get some new robes."
DM: "Alright make a deception check."
Ranger: "Fuck it, nevermind I haven't made a skill check all night. I'll just stab him. Nat 20. Max damage."
Edit: This isn't to say that "x rounds until alarm is raised" isn't a fun tool to use sometimes. Basically it's a picking the right tool for the right time.
In my group often times I’ll do a group stealth check most of the time but if someone gets detected it can quickly turn into a problem solving encounter
In a group stealth check, one person failing is irrelevant, that's literally the only difference between regular checks and group ones. Only half the party have to pass a group check
Why are the non-stealthy characters trying to follow in the first place? Just hide nearby and come to the sneaky chsracters' aid if they fuck up. Or do something to temporarily boost your ability to sneak, at least.
ten minutes later, with assistance
Oh, everyone died because the monster had tremor sense.
