Question about Tracking... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Question about Tracking... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
CommonlyReferredToAsEek
05-14-07, 07:00 PM I've been having a hard time understanding how the survival skill works for tracking.

Assmuing you find the track with a search check, can you also follow them or do you need to roll a Survival check to be able to follow the tracks you've found?

If you succeed a survival check to follow tracks, can you follow the track until it's end or do you have to reroll after a certain distance?

Can you take 20 on a survival check to follow tracks?

Can you track while riding? If yes, do you move at half your speed or half your mount's speed?

Are my questions dumb? Should they have been posted in the FAQ thread?
AtmaWeapon
05-14-07, 07:12 PM I've been having a hard time understanding how the survival skill works for tracking.

First, lets fix that.

Assmuing you find the track with a search check, can you also follow them or do you need to roll a Survival check to be able to follow the tracks you've found?

Well, first you do not look for tracks with search, you search for tracks with survival. After locating the trail, you would need to roll survival again to attempt to follow it. Two actions, two rolls.

If you succeed a survival check to follow tracks, can you follow the track until it's end or do you have to reroll after a certain distance?

You should be forced to reroll anytime the trail is interfered with, For example, crosses a river, gets intermixed with other tracks, it rains/snows, or after every mile or so.

Can you take 20 on a survival check to follow tracks?

I would say it depends on the distance. A few hundred feet, sure. 10 Miles? No way. It takes *20 times* as long as normal to take 20, and that's over 10 hours per mile.

Can you track while riding? If yes, do you move at half your speed or half your mount's speed?

DM's fiat. I would only allow it if the mount has track as well. It is unrealistic to assume someone can follow a trail effectively from horseback.

Are my questions dumb? Should they have been posted in the FAQ thread?

Nope, your questions are fine.
CommonlyReferredToAsEek
05-14-07, 07:23 PM Thanks, very helpful.

When I reroll survival after a certain distance, must I roll to find tracks again or only to follow them?
AtmaWeapon
05-14-07, 07:24 PM Thanks, very helpful.

When I reroll survival after a certain distance, must I roll to find tracks again or only to follow them?

I would view it moreso as a "making sure you haven't lost the trail" roll, so just to continue following them.

The PHB says that you roll "to follow a trail for 1 mile", so I'd say a successful survival check is good for about 1 mile, barring any interference with the trail.
SALDAR
05-15-07, 05:54 PM Well, first you do not look for tracks with search, you search for tracks with survival. After locating the trail, you would need to roll survival again to attempt to follow it. Two actions, two rolls.

Actually, you can find footprints or signs of a creature's passing using the Search skill but you cannot use Search to find or follow a trail. To find or follow a trail you need the Track feat, which relies on the Survival skill.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
CommonlyReferredToAsEek 05-14-07, 07:00 PM	I've been having a hard time understanding how the survival skill works for tracking. Assmuing you find the track with a search check, can you also follow them or do you need to roll a Survival check to be able to follow the tracks you've found? If you succeed a survival check to follow tracks, can you follow the track until it's end or do you have to reroll after a certain distance? Can you take 20 on a survival check to follow tracks? Can you track while riding? If yes, do you move at half your speed or half your mount's speed? Are my questions dumb? Should they have been posted in the FAQ thread?
AtmaWeapon 05-14-07, 07:12 PM	I've been having a hard time understanding how the survival skill works for tracking. First, lets fix that. Assmuing you find the track with a search check, can you also follow them or do you need to roll a Survival check to be able to follow the tracks you've found? Well, first you do not look for tracks with search, you search for tracks with survival. After locating the trail, you would need to roll survival again to attempt to follow it. Two actions, two rolls. If you succeed a survival check to follow tracks, can you follow the track until it's end or do you have to reroll after a certain distance? You should be forced to reroll anytime the trail is interfered with, For example, crosses a river, gets intermixed with other tracks, it rains/snows, or after every mile or so. Can you take 20 on a survival check to follow tracks? I would say it depends on the distance. A few hundred feet, sure. 10 Miles? No way. It takes 20 times as long as normal to take 20, and that's over 10 hours per mile. Can you track while riding? If yes, do you move at half your speed or half your mount's speed? DM's fiat. I would only allow it if the mount has track as well. It is unrealistic to assume someone can follow a trail effectively from horseback. Are my questions dumb? Should they have been posted in the FAQ thread? Nope, your questions are fine.
CommonlyReferredToAsEek 05-14-07, 07:23 PM	Thanks, very helpful. When I reroll survival after a certain distance, must I roll to find tracks again or only to follow them?
AtmaWeapon 05-14-07, 07:24 PM	Thanks, very helpful. When I reroll survival after a certain distance, must I roll to find tracks again or only to follow them? I would view it moreso as a "making sure you haven't lost the trail" roll, so just to continue following them. The PHB says that you roll "to follow a trail for 1 mile", so I'd say a successful survival check is good for about 1 mile, barring any interference with the trail.
SALDAR 05-15-07, 05:54 PM	Well, first you do not look for tracks with search, you search for tracks with survival. After locating the trail, you would need to roll survival again to attempt to follow it. Two actions, two rolls. Actually, you can find footprints or signs of a creature's passing using the Search skill but you cannot use Search to find or follow a trail. To find or follow a trail you need the Track feat, which relies on the Survival skill.