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Perception (Wis)

The perception skill is used to notice fine details or alert you to danger. It covers all five senses.

Check: A perception check can be used to oppose an opponent's stealth check. Succeeding means noticing the opponent and avoiding being surprised.

Detail	DC
Hear the sound of battle	-10
Notice the stench of rotting garbage	-10
Detect the smell of smoke	0
Hear the details of conversation	0
Notice a visible creature	0
Determine if food is spoiled	5
Hear the sound of a creature walking	10
Hear the details of a whispered conversation	15
Find the average concealed door	15
Hear the sound of a key being turned in a lock	20
Find the average secret door	20
Hear a bow being drawn	25
Sense a burrowing creature underneath you	25
Notice a pickpocket	Opposed by Sleight of Hand
Notice a creature using Stealth	Opposed by Stealth
Find a hidden trap	Varies by trap
Identify the powers of a potion through taste	15 + potion caster level

Perception Modifiers	DC Modifier
Distance to the source, object, or creature	+1/10 feet
Through a closed door	+5
Through a wall	+10/foot of thickness
Favorable conditions¹	–2
Unfavorable conditions¹	+2
Terrible conditions²	+5
Creature making the check is distracted	+5
Creature making the check is asleep	+10
Creature or object is invisible	+20
1 Favorable and unfavorable conditions depend upon the sense being used to make the check. For example, bright light might increase the DC of checks involving sight, while torchlight or moonlight might give a penalty. Background noise might reduce a DC involving hearing, while competing odors might penalize any DC involving scent. 2 As for unfavorable conditions, but more extreme. For example, candlelight for DCs involving sight, a roaring dragon for DCs involving hearing, and an overpowering stench covering the area for DCs involving scent.