Hey, Listen [Archive] - Wizards Community

Hey, Listen [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
neo-Aeris
04-11-07, 05:01 PM This question is purely out of curiousity. (In all likelihood, it has already been asked, but I'm a newbie to both the game and the forums, so cut me some slack. Please?;) )

"Spot" and "Search" are two different skills with obvious similarity. If you are not actively looking for something, then you need to "Spot" it. If you are specifically looking for something, you have to "Search" for it. Now that's all well and good, but what about "Listen"?

You put your ear to the door to actively "Listen" for anyone on the other side. Fine. However, you may be casually dining at a tavern and you just so happen to overhear an interesting (side-quest initiating) conversation. Still, "Listen", even though you weren't trying to eavesdrop.

Why was the sense of sight split up into two skills (Spot and Search), and the sense of hearing was not? (Not that I want it to be, I'm just wondering.)
jadehawk
04-11-07, 05:16 PM Note that while search is obviously vision dominant, it would also include feeling around, and perhaps smelling and listening. Try not to think of search so much as a subset of spot, even though there is a thin line at times of which one to roll.

Spotting and Listening can both be rolled actively and passively. Search is not simply an active form of spot. It is an investigative check used to analyze an area for some sort of clue.
Argo
04-11-07, 05:16 PM The Search skill isn't solely limited to sight. Searching involves moving things out of your way, feeling around, recognizing inconsistensies, etc. There's a feat that makes your Search checks use your Dexterity modifier in place of Wisdom.

Spot is "Woah, I see something!"
Search is "Hang on while I go over this place with a fine-toothed comb."
neo-Aeris
04-11-07, 05:26 PM PC 1: *sniff sniff*
PC 2: What are you doing?
PC 1: Searching... for cookies.

Fine-toothed combed... Heh heh, Space Balls.

Unfortunately, that's all I have to add. *nods intelligently*
jadehawk
04-11-07, 05:58 PM Colonel Sandurz "Sir, do you think we're being too literal?"

Dark Helmet "No you fool, we're following orders. We were told to comb the desert so we're combing it."

I think it would be a mundane item granting a +2 circumstance bonus to search checks made on exceptionally gradiant surfaces.
Kyaran
04-11-07, 10:14 PM Spot is "Oh, look! A penny!"
Search is a Where's Waldo (http://www.worldvillage.com/wv/school/images/scrnshot/waldo6.gif) book.

Many times, one could make a lucky Spot check to obviate the Search check. (i.e. "Oh, look! A Waldo!")

Check out the new Star Wars skill system (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=starwars/article/SagaPreview2) that combines Search, Spot, Listen, and Sense Motive (and perhaps more) into Perception. Many people (or at least me) think this may be a precursor to D&D 4.0.
Ranger REG
04-11-07, 10:31 PM Check out the new Star Wars skill system (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=starwars/article/SagaPreview2) that combines Search, Spot, Listen, and Sense Motive (and perhaps more) into Perception. Many people (or at least me) think this may be a precursor to D&D 4.0.
"More" would be smelling something out of the ordinary. Or probably notice that's not pineapple-flavored snow cone you're eating. :yuck:

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
neo-Aeris 04-11-07, 05:01 PM	This question is purely out of curiousity. (In all likelihood, it has already been asked, but I'm a newbie to both the game and the forums, so cut me some slack. Please?;) ) "Spot" and "Search" are two different skills with obvious similarity. If you are not actively looking for something, then you need to "Spot" it. If you are specifically looking for something, you have to "Search" for it. Now that's all well and good, but what about "Listen"? You put your ear to the door to actively "Listen" for anyone on the other side. Fine. However, you may be casually dining at a tavern and you just so happen to overhear an interesting (side-quest initiating) conversation. Still, "Listen", even though you weren't trying to eavesdrop. Why was the sense of sight split up into two skills (Spot and Search), and the sense of hearing was not? (Not that I want it to be, I'm just wondering.)
jadehawk 04-11-07, 05:16 PM	Note that while search is obviously vision dominant, it would also include feeling around, and perhaps smelling and listening. Try not to think of search so much as a subset of spot, even though there is a thin line at times of which one to roll. Spotting and Listening can both be rolled actively and passively. Search is not simply an active form of spot. It is an investigative check used to analyze an area for some sort of clue.
Argo 04-11-07, 05:16 PM	The Search skill isn't solely limited to sight. Searching involves moving things out of your way, feeling around, recognizing inconsistensies, etc. There's a feat that makes your Search checks use your Dexterity modifier in place of Wisdom. Spot is "Woah, I see something!" Search is "Hang on while I go over this place with a fine-toothed comb."
neo-Aeris 04-11-07, 05:26 PM	PC 1: sniff sniff PC 2: What are you doing? PC 1: Searching... for cookies. Fine-toothed combed... Heh heh, Space Balls. Unfortunately, that's all I have to add. nods intelligently
jadehawk 04-11-07, 05:58 PM	Colonel Sandurz "Sir, do you think we're being too literal?" Dark Helmet "No you fool, we're following orders. We were told to comb the desert so we're combing it." I think it would be a mundane item granting a +2 circumstance bonus to search checks made on exceptionally gradiant surfaces.
Kyaran 04-11-07, 10:14 PM	Spot is "Oh, look! A penny!" Search is a Where's Waldo (http://www.worldvillage.com/wv/school/images/scrnshot/waldo6.gif) book. Many times, one could make a lucky Spot check to obviate the Search check. (i.e. "Oh, look! A Waldo!") Check out the new Star Wars skill system (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=starwars/article/SagaPreview2) that combines Search, Spot, Listen, and Sense Motive (and perhaps more) into Perception. Many people (or at least me) think this may be a precursor to D&D 4.0.
Ranger REG 04-11-07, 10:31 PM	Check out the new Star Wars skill system (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=starwars/article/SagaPreview2) that combines Search, Spot, Listen, and Sense Motive (and perhaps more) into Perception. Many people (or at least me) think this may be a precursor to D&D 4.0. "More" would be smelling something out of the ordinary. Or probably notice that's not pineapple-flavored snow cone you're eating. :yuck: