Stolen from @Scratticus_
I want to talk about group stealth rules which I use for this very problem. A thread.
So as a serial paladin Player I’m usually the one that lets down the party with the stealth. Sometimes it’s just not possible to hang back. pic.twitter.com/oOZNclcE2I
— Divine Smite Leo 🛡 (@GlossandGadgets) May 5, 2019
Read and understand. Group checks are fantastic, for stealth in particular. It makes stealth a viable option in a party where every character hasn't prioritized sneakiness. https://t.co/AOYRz0L3gU
— Dan Dillon (@Dan_Dillon_1) May 5, 2019
So lemme get this straight. Everyone rolls stealth, and you use the total? So if everyone rolls a 10, and you have 4 players, it’s a 40? It almost seems like a guarantee to stealth. Or maybe I’m not understanding? PHB pg 175. Each member of the group makes the check, if half succeed, the entire group succeeds.
— Dan Dillon (@Dan_Dillon_1) May 5, 2019
Seems backward to me. This is why your sneaky characters get out in front and scout. Otherwise what’s the point in being the sneaky character at all? Because the more party memebers with good Stealth bonuses, the more likely the group is to succeed?
— Dan Dillon (@Dan_Dillon_1) May 5, 2019
Your sneaky types can still go off on their own if they like, with all the risks and complications that entails.
Group checks just mean that you don’t auto fail trying to sneak because you have one ham-toed oaf wearing plate.
— Dan Dillon (@Dan_Dillon_1) May 5, 2019
Agreed. I don’t k ow about you, but I specifically include group checks in my writing these days. In my next book, I can think of two separate times when I call for group checks and provide a quick sidebox explaining the rule. Group checks are fun and useful in other circumstances such as social/charisma checks. They sure are. Making stealth an actual option is just my favorite example.
— Dan Dillon (@Dan_Dillon_1) May 5, 2019
Love it!
— Dan Dillon (@Dan_Dillon_1) May 5, 2019
While i like group stealth in principle, in practice it just makes for lazy play. Players no longer try to create distractions or find ways to get armor in because magic i guess? The idea behind group checks is the more skilled characters help out the ones who are more of a liability for the task at hand. The rogue binds or pads a few of the fighter’s armor plates, points out where to step to avoid creaky stairs or loose stones, etc.
— Dan Dillon (@Dan_Dillon_1) May 5, 2019
If you don’t care for stream lining the process for ease/speed of play, you can always require more active steps taken.
My problem with that is it usually just doesn’t happen and boils down to “did the paladin roll high despite their crappy bonus?”
I find that lazy and unfun.
— Dan Dillon (@Dan_Dillon_1) May 5, 2019
How does one person help another person be quiet? Padding noisy armor plates, picking a path free of ground litter that will snap, pointing out loose rocks or creaky floor boards, telling them to stop when sentries are looking, or when the light is unfavorable, then signaling to move when the shadows are covering. etc.
— Dan Dillon (@Dan_Dillon_1) May 6, 2019
I think it would be more balanced if you took the average of all their dice rolls after any bonuses and you do the same for the “group” of guards For stealth in particular just use the guards’ passive Perception. No averaging required!
— Dan Dillon (@Dan_Dillon_1) May 6, 2019
