Just wondering the differences between Divine Sense and Passive Sense. I'm currently playing a Dragonborn Paladin with Divine Sense. As well as having Passive Sense of Perception, Investigation and Insight. I understand that the Passive Senses do exactly what they say. And that you are rolling, I guess with Divine Sense? But wondering if the reason I have the Passive Senses is because of the Divine Sense? Or is that a completely different thing?
Because if they are two completely different things, the Divine Sense is completely pointless to even use. Because my numbers for the Passive Senses are typically high enough, to usually just passively detect anything and everything around me(within reason) at all times. Without having to roll for anything. Unless that is completely wrong of course, and I'm completely misinterpreting the Divine and Passive Senses?
Every character has passive senses. Passive senses, RAW, cannot be used to see through most magical illusions or disguises, though some DMs will ignore this. Divine senses are a Paladin feature. Divine sense requires an active check. Both will let you be aware of a red-skinned, goateed, pointy-eared, horned dude standing in the corner, but Divine sense lets you know that it's not a fiend because he doesn't register on it, and then you can guess that it's an illusion or a shapechanger. Divine sense lets you know that the commoner standing in front of you, offering a suspiciously good deal, is actually a celestial.
I suppose this would make more sense if you understood what kind of checks were possible, but some powerful creatures like fiends and celestials will dunk on any passive check, beside that, passive checks have little to do with checking for desecrated and consecrated places and objects. If your hunting something dangerous like a fiend, they could be stalking right behind you, but you don't have to see it to sense it. It's niche, but not useless, as Undead and Fiends are fairly typical antagonist, and not every class skill is going to be game alteringly pervasive.
I'm completely ignorant to D&D, in every way possible. The first and last time I played, was in 1983.
But in regards to this Passive Senses......Example: I am asked to do a Perception check on Traps. It is a DC 10.....My Passive Wisdom (Perception) is 11.
With a Passive Perception of 11, there is no need for me to roll a D20 in this example?
Depends on the DM. The description of passive stats includes the following: "A passive check is a special kind of ability check that doesn't involve any die rolls. Such a check can represent the average result for a task done repeatedly, such as searching for secret doors over and over again, or can be used when the DM wants to secretly determine whether the characters succeed at something without rolling dice, such as noticing a hidden monster." So RAW, yes, but there are a lot of DMs who don't like or won't use passive scores, for whatever reason they may have. So it's often advised to feel out how your DM uses passive stats before committing to a build that relies on them or improves them too much.
Passive senses are a DM's tool, not a player. They are used in place of a roll in the instance where they don't want the player to roll, but a check using a.skill needs to be made. Examples of when a passive check might be made:
When there is a hidden object, perhaps a trap, a secret door or something else in a room. Obviously, a character might spot it, but they might not. The DM wants to know if the character notices it, but doesn't want to ask for a roll because that'll be a giveaway that something is there, so he does a passive check instead.
If the party is moving through a serious of small rooms. You don't want to stop for s check in each and every single 5ft square room, so you take a passive check instead.
You want to set a DC for an NPC hiding and don't want to do a contested check.
How DM's handle passive checks are different in each case, though. Some will do it as I wrote. Others will treat your passive score as a minimum, and your rolls can only increase the score. There are those who don't use them at all. As a player, don't worry about passive checks. That's for your DM to worry about.
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Just wondering the differences between Divine Sense and Passive Sense. I'm currently playing a Dragonborn Paladin with Divine Sense. As well as having Passive Sense of Perception, Investigation and Insight. I understand that the Passive Senses do exactly what they say. And that you are rolling, I guess with Divine Sense? But wondering if the reason I have the Passive Senses is because of the Divine Sense? Or is that a completely different thing?
Because if they are two completely different things, the Divine Sense is completely pointless to even use. Because my numbers for the Passive Senses are typically high enough, to usually just passively detect anything and everything around me(within reason) at all times. Without having to roll for anything. Unless that is completely wrong of course, and I'm completely misinterpreting the Divine and Passive Senses?
Any info on this would be helpful. Appreciate it.
Thanks
Every character has passive senses. Passive senses, RAW, cannot be used to see through most magical illusions or disguises, though some DMs will ignore this. Divine senses are a Paladin feature. Divine sense requires an active check. Both will let you be aware of a red-skinned, goateed, pointy-eared, horned dude standing in the corner, but Divine sense lets you know that it's not a fiend because he doesn't register on it, and then you can guess that it's an illusion or a shapechanger. Divine sense lets you know that the commoner standing in front of you, offering a suspiciously good deal, is actually a celestial.
Birgit | Shifter | Sorcerer | Dragonlords
Shayone | Hobgoblin | Sorcerer | Netherdeep
I suppose this would make more sense if you understood what kind of checks were possible, but some powerful creatures like fiends and celestials will dunk on any passive check, beside that, passive checks have little to do with checking for desecrated and consecrated places and objects. If your hunting something dangerous like a fiend, they could be stalking right behind you, but you don't have to see it to sense it. It's niche, but not useless, as Undead and Fiends are fairly typical antagonist, and not every class skill is going to be game alteringly pervasive.
I'm completely ignorant to D&D, in every way possible. The first and last time I played, was in 1983.
But in regards to this Passive Senses......Example: I am asked to do a Perception check on Traps. It is a DC 10.....My Passive Wisdom (Perception) is 11.
With a Passive Perception of 11, there is no need for me to roll a D20 in this example?
Depends on the DM. The description of passive stats includes the following: "A passive check is a special kind of ability check that doesn't involve any die rolls. Such a check can represent the average result for a task done repeatedly, such as searching for secret doors over and over again, or can be used when the DM wants to secretly determine whether the characters succeed at something without rolling dice, such as noticing a hidden monster." So RAW, yes, but there are a lot of DMs who don't like or won't use passive scores, for whatever reason they may have. So it's often advised to feel out how your DM uses passive stats before committing to a build that relies on them or improves them too much.
Birgit | Shifter | Sorcerer | Dragonlords
Shayone | Hobgoblin | Sorcerer | Netherdeep
OK.....Thanks for the info.
Passive senses are a DM's tool, not a player. They are used in place of a roll in the instance where they don't want the player to roll, but a check using a.skill needs to be made. Examples of when a passive check might be made:
How DM's handle passive checks are different in each case, though. Some will do it as I wrote. Others will treat your passive score as a minimum, and your rolls can only increase the score. There are those who don't use them at all. As a player, don't worry about passive checks. That's for your DM to worry about.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.