Observation describes the character’s ability to effectively survey
and examine the world around him. In game terms, a character with
a high Observation score is able to find secret and concealed
portals and hidden objects more effectively, hear noises more
effectively, and discern details more effectively. A rogue character
with a high observation score can more easily Find Traps and notice
back attacks. A character with a low Observation score is inhibited
in these abilities.
Calculating Observation Score: The Observation ability is a derivative score. A character’s
power of Observation is based on his mental ability to see things
clearly and the physical ability to see or hear effectively. Therefore
to calculate Observation, add Wisdom/Intuition and Dexterity/Aim
and divide by two, round up the total.
Concealed Doors Modifier: This number modifies a character’s chance on a d20 roll to find
a concealed portal or item.
Secret Doors Modifier: This number modifies character’s chance on a d20 roll to find
a secret door or invisible item.
A character with a high Secret Doors Modifier has a better chance
to hit invisible creatures and may add his modifier to his chance
to hit such creatures. This modifier also can also be added to
a character's chance to hit in conditions of darkness or limited
visibility, but the bonus for a high Observation can never exceed
the penalty applied because of low visibility.
These special bonuses to hit do not apply if the character is
deafened or if the creature he is fighting cannot be heard (if
the creature in question has a strong odor or is detectable by
some other means than sight or sound then the bonus is halved
instead of negated even if it is magically silenced). For example,
Jon the Light would normally have a -4 to hit penalty against
an invisible creature, but since he has an Observation of 18 he
can reduce that bonus to -2.
Back Protection: A character with the Back Protection thief ability uses this
number to modify his thief ability.
Find Traps: A character with the Find/Remove Traps or Find/Remove Large
Traps thief ability uses this number to modify his thief ability
to find traps, but not to remove traps.
Hear Noise Modifier: This number modifies a character’s chance to hear noise on d20
or d00 roll for rogue characters.
Spell Immunity: Like the immunity to illusions/phantasms granted to a character
with an Intelligence of 19 or higher, a character with an Observation
of 19 or higher will notice inconsistencies in certain illusions
allowing him to automatically make his saving throw. Spell immunities
are cumulative.
Skills: Observation is the relevant ability for skills such as Blindfighting
and Tracking.
