Perception rolls & area attacks

[zinc]

Hi, how do you solve perception rolls? I mean... my players doesn`t nave senses and they aire rolling 2 dices versus the Doom Pool. They never pass it.

The second question is: How do you solve when rolling an area attack versus some PCs with stress and others without it? Do you add that dices to your rolls?


Again, sorry for bar english

[MidnightBlue]

On the Perception roll question...

My first thought would be to ask yourself if you really need to roll for Perception?

What does a failed roll mean...that the players don't get to move along the adventure or don't get an important piece of information that you (as Watcher) have gone to the trouble of coming up with? If so, then I wouldn't require a roll. Doing so could mean a speed bump for the story that isn't necessary.

As a general rule in other games, I try to make all of the info that the players will need available to them without a roll...as part of the setting narration or NPC dialogue or character flashback...whatever.

Now...if I wanted to grant particularly observant characters a chance to gain bonus info above and beyond what they "need" to keep the adventure moving...say characters with Senses or appropriate Distinctions/Specialties on their sheets...then I'd let them roll whatever they can narrate, just like with other actions.

Maybe Science can help a guy identify an odor or what chemical might cause a blue flame to burn.

Maybe Tech can help a guy identify what equipment could drill its way through a bank vault.

Maybe Vehicle can help a guy ID track marks on the road.

Maybe a guy has the Distinction "Skilled Hunter" or "Excellent Tracker." Those could be useful in tracking a target/prey through the woods or streets.

Just some ideas.

[chaosnet]

Gotta agree with MB...only roll when you need to. If the story calls for Stealth Boy to successfully sneak away then even if the characters have Godlike Senses, they should fail.

If a hero has distinctions/specialties that could track Stealth Boy, then let them do that BUT for the moment Stealth Boy is gone.

As far as the area effect issue, I think that I had this situation happen and I applied the highest stress die into the pool. Narratively it probably doesnt matter much as you still need to assign an effect die against each target and if it does come up then just 'center' the effect on the person with the high stress die.

[Spatula]

I wouldn't roll perception checks. If it's important, the characters see it - and you can let them narrate how that happens. If it's not important, they don't see it. If you're on the fence, flip a coin.

I agree with chaosnet's suggestion of using the highest stress for area attacks.

[Cam]

1. Perception checks are no fun. Don't bother with them. Make rolls for interesting things, not potential roadblocks.
2. Add in the highest stress die. It will balance out just fine!

Cheers,
Cam

[Grimmshade]

1. Perception checks are no fun. Don't bother with them. Make rolls for interesting things, not potential roadblocks.

I love this philosophy! It totally meshes with what I have already been doing at my table. Even villainous ambushes work well with narration and the use of Doom Pool action order interrupts by villains.