tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239577512598038009.post7255729247025168944..comments2024-02-27T01:17:39.925-08:00Comments on The Nine and Thirty Kingdoms: Where and How to SearchTalysmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02162328521343832412noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239577512598038009.post-3471301171416777842011-09-03T11:05:19.926-07:002011-09-03T11:05:19.926-07:00@JD: I don't know that detailed player skill s...@JD: I don't know that detailed player skill searches take forever, or at least I don't think they *should*. That's kind of my point: when I see the debate about player skill searching vs. character ability searching pop up, the examples are always of the "pixel bitching" variety, with really precise search descriptions. I think if the GM emphasizes to the players "all I want to know is where you are searching -- no 'everywhere' allowed -- and which methods you are using, including any tricks you think will improve your odds of finding stuff or avoiding risks." The search descriptions can wind up reasonably short, if you follow that guideline.<br /><br />I think that also helps with the "standard procedures" part, too, although as you say, you still have to remind players "don't be a dick" if they step over that boundary. I don't approve of standing orders, myself, although if they want to work out a particular procedure and give it a code name, like "the savage sweep", I'm fine with them saying "we do the Savage Sweep on the room". Kind of makes sense in character, even.Talysmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02162328521343832412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239577512598038009.post-15846135449538041162011-09-02T14:19:13.968-07:002011-09-02T14:19:13.968-07:00There's a few game playing problems with the d...There's a few game playing problems with the detailed descriptive search (which I still really prefer for some perverse reason).<br /><br />1. They take forever. Do we really need a half hour of play to confirm the empty room is an empty room?<br /><br />2. Becasue they take forever or players are afraid they'll miss something the players will inevitably come up with a list of standard procedures.<br />Which will be boring and the players will eventually try to pass onto the DM as his responsibility to keep track of leading to:<br /> "Oh no I wouldn't have fallen in that pit trap behind the door we are deploying search pattern 12 and in subsection g it states I'd be standing 4 feet to the left"<br />or<br />"Well yeah that's standard search procedure 14f but I wouldn't do that here..."<br /><br />Players have to not be dicks to the DM too.JDJarvishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07691101939920824546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7239577512598038009.post-67946151921476225352011-09-02T13:38:05.250-07:002011-09-02T13:38:05.250-07:00Nice advice, and it fits well with the more detail...Nice advice, and it fits well with the more detailed stuff on Hack & Slash's trick series.Roger G-Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08594440701279968693noreply@blogger.com