Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 edmonto May 23, 2012 14:25:09	Some friends and I are playing a game, and the DM is not sure what consists as "hearing distance." He is thinking of house-ruling 60 ft., but that seems stupid to the rest of the party. As the bard I really need to know what the ruling is on this. So any of you guys know where I could find a ruling on this, or can anyone help out? Thanks, edmonto
#2 therion666 May 23, 2012 16:49:22	Unfortunately this is a 'how long is a piece of string' question. If someone drops a coin onto a hard surface then it can be heard a long long way due to the pitch, however the same coin makes little or no noise when dropped onto dirt or grass. I've heard people talking reasonably quietly across the close where I live, even with passive hearing and this has been around 100 feet. What I'm saying is it's the DM's call and depends on whether the person making the noise is trying to be heard (such as a bard) or a theif who is trying not to be heard whilst whispering to his colleagues where the guards are. The best method for working out things like hearing distances are to test it, get an idea on how to measure a distance(using your stride for example) then check a distance using your stride for measuring, in your street then listening to people walking, talking, whispering and any other hearing options.
#3 Krusk May 23, 2012 17:38:13	Use perception checks. I'd break out the 3.5 rules for the listen skill to determine exact DCs. www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/listen.htm DC is 0 for people talking, +1 to DC per 10 ft.  Other events like shouting, a fight, or a feather falling all have a different base DC that the distance +1 mod applies to. For instance, an Owl flying stealthily starts the DC at 30 +1 per 10ft of distance.