I do not understand the following paragraph from the 5e rulebook.
"Here’s how to determine a character’s total for a passive check: 10 + all modifiers that normally apply to the check If the character has advantage on the check, add 5. For disadvantage, subtract 5. The game refers to a passive check total as a score. For example, if a 1st-level character has a Wisdom of 15 and proficiency in Perception, he or she has a passive Wisdom (Perception) score of 14. The rules on hiding in the “Dexterity” section below rely on passive checks, as do the exploration rules in chapter 8."
I do not understand how the "score of 14" was determined.
It doesn't explain it very well. Be great if someone could explain. Thanks.
Well, a Wisdom of 15 means a modifier of +2, and proficiency adds an extra +2 on top of that, so the example character's total Wisdom (Perception) bonus would be +4. Since the passive score is calculated as 10 + bonuses, and the bonus to the skill is +4, the total for the score is 14.
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Look at what you've done. You spoiled it. You have nobody to blame but yourself. Go sit and think about your actions.
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In the example the 1st level character has proficiency in Perception so they add their proficiency bonus, which for a 1st level character is 2. If they did not have proficiency in Perception then the proficiency bonus would not be included. But your ability modifier pretty much always is added. So 10+2+2=14
In the example the 1st level character has proficiency in Perception so they add their proficiency bonus, which for a 1st level character is 2. If they did not have proficiency in Perception then the proficiency bonus would not be included. But your ability modifier pretty much always is added. So 10+2+2=14
10 + all modifiers that normally apply to the check
So if you don't have the proficiency bonus (aka did not pick up proficiency in that skill) it would just be 10 + 2 = 12 And like your example if you had the bonus then it would be the 10 + 2 + 2 = 14
Well, I want to know what it means for my level 5 character, because according to Dungeons and Dragons, my character shouldn't even have to roll, especially in. Great dragon heist. And other low level campaigns and stuff like that, because. My character literally tops any maximum DC savin The Great Dragon Heist and other. Low level campaigns. I mean, my passives are over 20. I ain't talking about no low 20s. I'm talking about 26 and 27. My insight is maybe seventeen. By level 13. Is in the low 30s. So by all rights. I shouldn't have to roll a period.
Well, I want to know what it means for my level 5 character, because according to Dungeons and Dragons, my character shouldn't even have to roll, especially in. Great dragon heist. And other low level campaigns and stuff like that, because. My character literally tops any maximum DC savin The Great Dragon Heist and other. Low level campaigns. I mean, my passives are over 20. I ain't talking about no low 20s. I'm talking about 26 and 27. My insight is maybe seventeen.
How do you get Passive Checks of 27 at Level 5 exactly?
Well, I want to know what it means for my level 5 character, because according to Dungeons and Dragons, my character shouldn't even have to roll, especially in. Great dragon heist. And other low level campaigns and stuff like that, because. My character literally tops any maximum DC savin The Great Dragon Heist and other. Low level campaigns. I mean, my passives are over 20. I ain't talking about no low 20s. I'm talking about 26 and 27. My insight is maybe seventeen. By level 13. Is in the low 30s. So by all rights. I shouldn't have to roll a period.
That's not how passive checks work, they're not an equivalent to "active" checks and can't be freely substituted. They're not a floor.
Your passive score is used when the DM/game is explicitly looking for a passive score. This could be for a situation where the DM doesn't want the party to know something is amiss by calling for a throw, or a situation where a characters passive score better represents their ability to complete the task.
So no, you still have to roll if the game/DM is calling for an ability check.
Well, I want to know what it means for my level 5 character, because according to Dungeons and Dragons, my character shouldn't even have to roll, especially in. Great dragon heist. And other low level campaigns and stuff like that, because. My character literally tops any maximum DC savin The Great Dragon Heist and other. Low level campaigns. I mean, my passives are over 20. I ain't talking about no low 20s. I'm talking about 26 and 27. My insight is maybe seventeen. By level 13. Is in the low 30s. So by all rights. I shouldn't have to roll a period.
Are you adding your ability SCOREs to 10 to get your passives?? So, get that sorted, then see Davyd's post because he's right that your passive score isn't a "floor", per se.
So by all rights. I shouldn't have to roll a period.
Looking at this again, I am guessing this is a Rogue or other character with Expertise. Rogues get Expertise at level 1, but any character can take 2024 Observant at level 4+ to gain Expertise in Perception.
At level 5, that's a base passive perception of 16. At level 14, that's a base of 20. If you are using the 2014 Observant feat, it's +5 instead of expertise. This thread is probably only dealing with 2024 rules, but still, that could explain the 26/27 passive perception. In that case, 2014 Observant doesn't help with Perception rolls at all.
Reliable Talent affects skill rolls and does not impact passive checks at all.
As others have mentioned, passive perception does not affect perception rolls. You have tried to build a character who cannot be surprised, but that is never going to be foolproof. Your DM should always make you roll even if you cannot fail.
Your DM should always make you roll even if you cannot fail.
Everything else aside, the DMG (iirc) directly contradicts this. It expressly tells you not to call for a roll is it's a guaranteed success or failure. Now, we can talk about what the merits of going against that are, but not here where the written rules are king.
Your DM should always make you roll even if you cannot fail.
Everything else aside, the DMG (iirc) directly contradicts this. It expressly tells you not to call for a roll is it's a guaranteed success or failure. Now, we can talk about what the merits of going against that are, but not here where the written rules are king.
I you are referring to Resolving Outcomes, that's a matter of interpretation. If the d20 test is has no chance of failure or success for everyone participating, don't bother rolling. If the d20 test is has no chance of failure or success for one character, everyone rolls. If only certain characters can succeed or fail, you don't exclude everyone else. I don't think it's the same thing. I suppose if the character making the perception test is alone and cannot fail, there is no need to roll, but I find that to be a rare scenario.
In any case, it's off topic for a thread on passive ability checks.
Hi, I'm new to the rules.
I do not understand the following paragraph from the 5e rulebook.
"Here’s how to determine a character’s total for a passive check:
10 + all modifiers that normally apply to the check
If the character has advantage on the check, add 5. For disadvantage, subtract 5. The game refers to a passive check total as a score.
For example, if a 1st-level character has a Wisdom of 15 and proficiency in Perception, he or she has a passive Wisdom (Perception) score of 14.
The rules on hiding in the “Dexterity” section below rely on passive checks, as do the exploration rules in chapter 8."
I do not understand how the "score of 14" was determined.
It doesn't explain it very well.
Be great if someone could explain.
Thanks.
Well, a Wisdom of 15 means a modifier of +2, and proficiency adds an extra +2 on top of that, so the example character's total Wisdom (Perception) bonus would be +4. Since the passive score is calculated as 10 + bonuses, and the bonus to the skill is +4, the total for the score is 14.
Look at what you've done. You spoiled it. You have nobody to blame but yourself. Go sit and think about your actions.
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A Passive Check score is 10 + ability modifier + proficiency bonus if applicable
Other bonuses may be added, such as when you have adventage or the Observant feat.
In the example the 1st level character has proficiency in Perception so they add their proficiency bonus, which for a 1st level character is 2. If they did not have proficiency in Perception then the proficiency bonus would not be included. But your ability modifier pretty much always is added. So 10+2+2=14
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10 + all modifiers that normally apply to the check
So if you don't have the proficiency bonus (aka did not pick up proficiency in that skill) it would just be 10 + 2 = 12
And like your example if you had the bonus then it would be the 10 + 2 + 2 = 14
Thanks for replying, I get it now.
Well, I want to know what it means for my level 5 character, because according to Dungeons and Dragons, my character shouldn't even have to roll, especially in. Great dragon heist. And other low level campaigns and stuff like that, because. My character literally tops any maximum DC savin The Great Dragon Heist and other. Low level campaigns. I mean, my passives are over 20. I ain't talking about no low 20s. I'm talking about 26 and 27. My insight is maybe seventeen. By level 13. Is in the low 30s. So by all rights. I shouldn't have to roll a period.
How do you get Passive Checks of 27 at Level 5 exactly?
Proficiency would be +3, Expertise would be +3 again, a 20 (!) Wisdom would be +5. That would be a passive 21.
I don't think Bardic Inspiration or Guidance can apply to passive checks. I don't see that advantage gives a modifier anymore.
Edit: I think the character has expertise and is using the 2014 version of Observant that adds +5 to passive perception.
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That's not how passive checks work, they're not an equivalent to "active" checks and can't be freely substituted. They're not a floor.
Your passive score is used when the DM/game is explicitly looking for a passive score. This could be for a situation where the DM doesn't want the party to know something is amiss by calling for a throw, or a situation where a characters passive score better represents their ability to complete the task.
So no, you still have to roll if the game/DM is calling for an ability check.
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I agree things like Guidance and Bardic Inspiration work on active D20 Test checks you make.
When a creature has Advantage on Passive Perception or other Passive Checks, you increase the score by 5.
Advantage is a situational bonus not usually factored in your Passive Score though.
Expertise is likely on tough.
Are you adding your ability SCOREs to 10 to get your passives?? So, get that sorted, then see Davyd's post because he's right that your passive score isn't a "floor", per se.
Looking at this again, I am guessing this is a Rogue or other character with Expertise. Rogues get Expertise at level 1, but any character can take 2024 Observant at level 4+ to gain Expertise in Perception.
At level 5, that's a base passive perception of 16. At level 14, that's a base of 20. If you are using the 2014 Observant feat, it's +5 instead of expertise. This thread is probably only dealing with 2024 rules, but still, that could explain the 26/27 passive perception. In that case, 2014 Observant doesn't help with Perception rolls at all.
Reliable Talent affects skill rolls and does not impact passive checks at all.
As others have mentioned, passive perception does not affect perception rolls. You have tried to build a character who cannot be surprised, but that is never going to be foolproof. Your DM should always make you roll even if you cannot fail.
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My houserulings.
Everything else aside, the DMG (iirc) directly contradicts this. It expressly tells you not to call for a roll is it's a guaranteed success or failure. Now, we can talk about what the merits of going against that are, but not here where the written rules are king.
I you are referring to Resolving Outcomes, that's a matter of interpretation. If the d20 test is has no chance of failure or success for everyone participating, don't bother rolling. If the d20 test is has no chance of failure or success for one character, everyone rolls. If only certain characters can succeed or fail, you don't exclude everyone else. I don't think it's the same thing. I suppose if the character making the perception test is alone and cannot fail, there is no need to roll, but I find that to be a rare scenario.
In any case, it's off topic for a thread on passive ability checks.
How to add Tooltips.
My houserulings.