Group Stealth Rolls

[PencilBoy99]

If the entire company is trying to ambush or sneak or something like that, does each person make their own Stealth roll (and thus all have to succeed). Is this a group test? Something else?

[Dunkelbrink]

A useful solution, used in the ambush rules for example, is to have everyone roll but let a hero who rolls a Great success help a hero who fails (or two on an extraordinary success). Everyone gets roll dice and good stealthers have a chance to shine!

[zedturtle]

A useful solution, used in the ambush rules for example, is to have everyone roll but let a hero who rolls a Great success help a hero who fails (or two on an extraordinary success). Everyone gets roll dice and good stealthers have a chance to shine!

That's the way I usually do it, with a helping of 'let it ride' (in other words, if there are enough successes for everyone on the first Stealth test then I don't make folks roll again until the situation significantly changes).

[Glorelendil]

You could require half of the party to succeed. Or perhaps permit a certain number of failures, possibly with intermediate effects. E.g.
- On the first failure a guard becomes more alert. Subsequent attempts have TN increased by one step.
- On the second failure the guard is on high alert. Subsequent attempts also roll Feat die twice and take worse result.
- On the third failure the guard shouts a warning, alerting the whole camp.

[Falenthal]

And, if an epic roll is made (Gandalf plus one or more Tengwars), then this is the kind of spectacular ambush the hero has performed:

https://youtu.be/GJoM7V54T-c?t=38

Watch the next 30 seconds. Not even elves can do that.

[PencilBoy99]

Does this approach apply to all rolls? That is, in any situation where one companion could plausably help another, then,the companion can share their extra successes with others (decreasing their degree of success).

e.g., companion 1 and 2 are climbing . 1 succeeds with a great success, 2 fails, so 1 shares their success die with 2 so they both get a normal success

companion 1 and 2 are doing something social, 1 gets a great success on persuasion, 2 fails, etc.

Is this part of the game or a house rule?

[Falenthal]

It's not an official overall rule. For example, it doesn't work for Fatigue tests.

But I think it's a great mechanic for the LM to have in mind, and allow it whenever "team work" seems to make sense: climbing a mountain, crossing a river, avoiding an ambush, trekking through the snow of Caradhras,...

[Glorelendil]

It's not an official overall rule. For example, it doesn't work for Fatigue tests.

Unless you are a Dúnedain with Endurance of the Ranger.

But I think it's a great mechanic for the LM to have in mind, and allow it whenever "team work" seems to make sense: climbing a mountain, crossing a river, avoiding an ambush, trekking through the snow of Caradhras,...

I agree. It gets at the heart of the Fellowship theme. I would lean toward using it as often as can be justified, and if that makes things too easy just increase the difficulty, frequency, or consequences.

Or all three. Mwuhahahahahahaha....

[Falenthal]

It's not an official overall rule. For example, it doesn't work for Fatigue tests.

Unless you are a Dúnedain with Endurance of the Ranger.

Or if you are using my house-rules for Travels.