[SKILL] Eavesdrop

[Grenwyn]

I was thinking the other day, and it occurred to me that it would be nice if thieves--and possibly other classes as well--had an "eavesdrop" command to listen to conversations in other rooms.

Depending on the eavesdropper's skill and the eavesdrop-ee's wisdom stat, the eavesdropee may or may not notice that he/she is being eavesdropped upon; every time someone in the room performs an action/says something there is a chance that the eavesdropper will be noticed.

If there is a door in the way, it will be harder to eavesdrop, but it will also be harder to notice the eavesdropper.

And, finally, if someone comes into the room where the eavesdropper is eavesdropping, it will be immediately obvious that the eavesdropper is eavesdropping--perhaps unless an "improved eavesdropping" feat or some such is introduced. But one step at a time.

I realize this is probably mostly wishful thinking and not likely to be introduced in the near future, but I think it would add an additional dimension to roleplay.

[Harroghty]

This actually sounds like a very good idea. I believe that it would add more role-play value to the rogue classes and enhance their potential to serve as the "scout" for an adventuring party. This is similar to Vibius's idea for a "snoop" skill that would allow a rogue or, in some cases a ranger, to look into any adjacent rooms.

I have seen only two real objections to this kind of skill:

Kregor raised the issue of distance. Some rooms are farther apart than others. A room in the wildnerness, for example, might be thirty kilometers away. I believe that what is not being mentioned is that while the center of point A and point B might be thirty kilometers apart, the borders of point A and point B have to touch. Therefore, it is possible to be near enough to eavesdrop even in the wildnerness. I believe that the distance thing does not really mitigate the fact that this could improve this class.

Mele said that she believed this skill would "cheapen clairvoyance" and added that thieves already have this ability with the sneak and hide skills. I believe that wizards will still be useful if thieves have this skill and so detracting from the clairvoyance spell is not an issue. Wizards's utility will endure this and it will make rogues more useful. Also, regarding sneak and hide: I believe that is always best to attempt these things in a manner that is safest for you. The difference between listening with sneak in the same room and listening with "eavesdrop" from the next room is like why have a sniper shoot from a concealed position when you can walk in and shoot? Clearly it's because you want to have less of a chance of being shot yourself.

My own personal comment is that, should such a thing be implemented, it would have to have a very high level restriction and possibly be gained through a quest. This skill's potential for abuse needs to be mitigated by a difficulty learning it.

[Kirkus]

I would like to add that in addition to the borders of two rooms having to touch, we as players don't rp distance. How often do we take in game days to travel between cities, who here stops at night and makes camp? so on and so fourth...

I think this is a good idea. I don't necessarily understand why it should be kept to the higher levels, or how it could be abused. I don't get how a rogue listening to other rooms would be out of character or unbalancing.

[Harroghty]

Great point about the attention that we pay to distances, Kirkus.

I do not believe that this skill could be unbalancing or out of character. My personal concern is more about maturity. I would advocate perhaps a level restriction of thirty. Also, how feasible is it for this to be tied to the thief and bard classes? Thoughts?

[Gwain]

Limit it to rooms flagged indoors and probably to cities. A man eavesdropping in a forest is more likely to hear juicy squirrel gossip then to hear elves conspiring a hex over. Sound travels strangely outside.

[Kirkus]

Perhaps we could instead of limiting where it's used we could put an skill check on it. Different areas would make it harder to hear. A quiet forest not that hard, a noisy market more difficult. What I was thinking was that, say your listening to a conversation, depending on the how well you are skilled you would hear the conversation perhaps with a few garbled words here and there. Sort of like when a pc uses a language that they aren't gm'ed at, you get "Hey Bob, fasdf are afdaf?"