Opposed check for surprise? Just initiative?
Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 4:45 pm
How are people handling player's trying to sneak up on others? Your DM says to you:
In the distance you hear a rushing water. From within the water you hear occasional grunts and splashes.
The PCs, (let's say: 1 thief, 1 fighter and 1 halfling) determine they want to sneak through the brush towards the water. In the water are two critters: a wallowing scoundrel, and the big-eared scoundrel. For sake of this example, we want to say the "big-eared scoundrel" has big ears, and therefore, is typically better at hearing approaching PCs.
The Thief: thieves have Sneak Silently which is "never opposed" so Mr. DM just has to create an appropriate DC
But for the fighter & halfling, they are supposed to roll a Sneaking vs. Listening. The jist of my question is: how should an advantage for Listening be given to the big-eared scoundrel vs. his wallowing scoundrel (as Listening is typically a Luck ability.)
Should the stat say:
Big Eared Scoundrel (typical stat block which does not include Luck), +2 for Listening checks (?)
Something similar?
In the distance you hear a rushing water. From within the water you hear occasional grunts and splashes.
The PCs, (let's say: 1 thief, 1 fighter and 1 halfling) determine they want to sneak through the brush towards the water. In the water are two critters: a wallowing scoundrel, and the big-eared scoundrel. For sake of this example, we want to say the "big-eared scoundrel" has big ears, and therefore, is typically better at hearing approaching PCs.
The Thief: thieves have Sneak Silently which is "never opposed" so Mr. DM just has to create an appropriate DC
But for the fighter & halfling, they are supposed to roll a Sneaking vs. Listening. The jist of my question is: how should an advantage for Listening be given to the big-eared scoundrel vs. his wallowing scoundrel (as Listening is typically a Luck ability.)
Should the stat say:
Big Eared Scoundrel (typical stat block which does not include Luck), +2 for Listening checks (?)
Something similar?