Find Traps Clarification

[discuit]

Hi all,

Can someone explain mechanically what the following (bold) means in the text:

Traps are sprung on a roll of 1-2 on six-sided die as a character passes over or nearby. Many of these are deadly. Traps can be located before they are sprung, however, in much the same manner as can secret doors (see especially dwarfs). Once found, a trap can usually be circumvented or avoided.

Cheers.

[waysoftheearth]

Hi Discuit, welcome to the forum

I'm not sure what you mean by "mechanically", but the text you bolded refers to the immediately preceding passage, which says:

Secret Doors and passages can be discovered by any player actively searching on a roll of 5-6 on a six-sided die (but see also elves and dwarfs). Locating a secret door will reveal the mechanism for opening it, but not activate it. It must be intentionally operated by the character.

Therefore, the text is telling us that traps can be searched for, with a 2 in 6 chance of locating a trap should it be present. A Dwarf would instead have 4 chances in 6 chance of locating a trap if it involved moving stonework, as would a thief (if these are used). Note that finding a trap does not disarm it... that would be a separate activity.

That's pretty much all there is to it. I hope that answers your question Discuit

[discuit]

It does indeed!

Thanks!

[discuit]

I guess i didn't realise it was referring to the exact mechanics as mentioned in the paragraph above, silly me.

[waysoftheearth]

I had a feeling that I may have "decorated" what I said about Dwarfs with my own interpretation. So I just went back and reread the text, and found that it says:

Dwarfs are expert miners and able to note any new construction, shifting walls, slopes, falling slabs, false floors and the like in dungeon stonework.

So the "4 in 6" chance of locating stonework traps was my own interpretation, based on an Elf's odds of locating secret doors. The text says only that Dwarfs are "able to note..." various features in stonework. It's up to the referee to decide exactly how this should be applied.

[discuit]

Ok, so dwarfs "note" stonework features/abnormalities/traps with the same odds as an elf spots secret doors? That being 3-6 when looking, and 5-6 when passing by. That makes sense and keeps things simple!

One last question, I'm guessing by that interpretation, other classes can spot traps on a 5-6 when actively searching just like secret doors?

I know there is no "right way", I'm just looking for guidance.

[Deleted]

Sounds like a reasonable interpretation to me.

[waysoftheearth]

Jan 1, 2013 6:29:28 GMT -6 discuit said:

One last question, I'm guessing by that interpretation, other classes can spot traps on a 5-6 when actively searching just like secret doors?

That's a perfectly sound approach IMHO, Discuit