Observant Feat Drow

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

Shojiteru

Sep 04, 2015 19:16:58		I was looking at the observant feat and +5 passive perception is basically giving you advantage which cancels disadvantage. Drow get disadvantage on perception checks in sunlight. Would their passive perception get disadvantage? This means Drow with Observant cancels out their sunlight sensitivity for passive perception! That sounds amazing, but is that possible? Sunlight Sensitivity does only say perception so maybe their passive is still good enough to get by and with Observant, they can funtion better than with regular perception. Out of combat, of course.
#2

Kithas48

Sep 04, 2015 19:33:56

This is not quite correct.

In 5e disadvantage means you roll 2 d20's and take the lesser number. having a +5 gives you an "advantage" to the roll but it does not provide the advantage. basically this means that if you get the observant feat and are in sunlight you will roll 2 d20's, take the lower number then add 5 to it.

#3

bid

Sep 04, 2015 20:01:50

Yep, since passive checks aren't rolled the disadvantage become a -5 and cancels out observant. That's a nice use of a feat to neutralize a weakness.

 

Your active perception checks are still doomed however. That's where lucky might shine.

#4

Shojiteru

Sep 04, 2015 20:32:46 		Well just need to use passive like a blind seeing eye dog to guide you to a shadow or long enough for a cloud to pass over the sun so you can function fully. It's not to completely bypass the weakness, just enough to guide you in the right direction.. hehe.. perception... guide...
#5

Noctaem

Sep 05, 2015 5:47:33

Also please keep in mind that the +5 from Observant is NOT advantage.  It is simply a +5 bonus that can STACK with advantage.  For purposes of things that would come into effect if you have disadvantage, they still apply.  You still have disadvantage because you're a drow, you do not have advantage by default.  You simply have a +5 bonus that helps mitigate the disadvantage from your race.

#6

Ahrimon

Sep 05, 2015 6:32:53

bid wrote:
(Reply to #6)

AaronOfBarbaria

Ahrimon wrote:
#8

Shojiteru

Sep 05, 2015 7:29:20 		So does Sunlight Sensitivity effect passive perception? In the book, it sounds like only active perception.
(Reply to #8)

AaronOfBarbaria

Shojiteru wrote:
(Reply to #9)

Shojiteru

AaronOfBarbaria wrote:
(Reply to #7)

Ahrimon

AaronOfBarbaria wrote:
(Reply to #11)

bid

Ahrimon wrote: