Natural Explorer states that:
Your group can’t become lost except by magical means.
If the ranger can't get lost, what happens if she fails her Wisdom (Survival) check to follow tracks?
\$\begingroup\$
\$\endgroup\$
Add a comment
|
2 Answers
\$\begingroup\$
\$\endgroup\$
1
I think it would be safe to assume that, even though the ranger knows where he/she is, they no longer know which direction their quarry went!
The consequences of this depend on the DM and the adventure.
Either the ranger and other characters need to find another way of figuring out where to go, or it may be acceptable to start a wide search of the area (gradually spiralling out from the current location for example) and making further Wisdom(Survival) checks every so often - say every hour - in order to pick up the tracks again, with the main consequence being time lost.
-
6\$\begingroup\$ This. Lost is usually in relation to a landmark such as a town or city, not in relation to whatever animal they might be tracking. The ranger knows where they are, but has no idea where the animal has gone. \$\endgroup\$ Commented May 14, 2018 at 10:11
\$\begingroup\$
\$\endgroup\$
3
I agree with another answer, but I have an alternative suggestion too: do not forget that, as DM, you can always replace a failure to do an action with a success with penalty. If you really intended for a character to do some action and his unlikely failure hinders whole plot, allow the action to be completed. Apply penalties instead. Clumsy acrobat did climb the wall. He just hurt himself and attracted guards' attention. Inept tracker did follow the trail, she just took an unnecessary detour into a known owlbear lair. And so on.
-
\$\begingroup\$ I'm not sure this answers the question. Can you give an example of how this principle would apply to the ranger tracking question above? \$\endgroup\$ Commented May 15, 2018 at 0:59
-
\$\begingroup\$ I already provided an example. If dice roll says ranger got lost, but other rules say she didn't, and you can't find a way to combine both, then ranger did not get lost, but had more trouble along the road than it would have been if ranger had a better dice roll. \$\endgroup\$ Commented May 15, 2018 at 1:56
-
\$\begingroup\$ The question asks what happens if they fail a tracking roll. Nothing about them becoming lost. One has nothing to do with the other. I can lose my keys but still know my way around my house. \$\endgroup\$ Commented May 15, 2018 at 2:46