Just to clarify, my first example is something that only someone with a good passive Performance would notice. My second example is another use of passive Performance in a case where someone with Perception might just notice it out right via their passive Perception. Someone with Performance might notice it because it doesn’t fit with the style/script/it’s just plain not something performers do/etc…but they wouldn’t notice something like that outside of a “performance” (play, song, art show, etc.).

There is a problem with Passive Checks in the game, people many times interpret them as “I only need to roll for this as long as the DC surpasses my Passive Score”. Well, this is not always the case. In certain parts of the story players will need to roll for an ability check, no matter the value of the Passive Score.

Also, I’m not fully on board with your solution right there, as it still involves a die roll. The purpose of the mechanic is to avoid dice rolls and speed up the game.

The remedy in our table is to use Passive Checks in parts of the adventure that are not crucial; Passive Perception (Wisdom) to describe the contents of the Inn, Passive Charisma in order to determine which rumors they find in the common room, etc. Crucial checks (i.e. disable the trap, spot the hidden Goblin etc) are all rolled as normal.

Still, I’d allow Passive Perception or Investigation checks in dungeons like the Tomb of Horrors, where they are actively searching for traps all the time.

What do you mean?

I’m not trying to be a dick, but I feel like you are just misreading the sentence. The examples in the sentence are “such as searching for secret doors over and over again” and “such as noticing a hidden monster.”

The rules list those as to examples oh how the rule is applied. Secret keeping and average over time is the rule.

Does failure stop the story?

When it uses the words “Such As” those are examples.

That is EXACTLY why you dont do it this way. If someone says, “I am always taking time to look for clues” during the Exploration phase of the game, you can treat that the same as the “slow pace” method of overland travel: you are not moving as fast, but you get to use your passive Investigate on each room (in lieu of rolling – if you could have rolled higher, you are out of luck).

Example: Level 5 Fighter with 16 dex and prof. theives tools: Using your rules, he Unlocks DC 15 lock automatically, with no roll, and no action cost. That is the same thing Rogues get to do at level 11.

Those aren’t EXAMPLES FROM THE RULES. They are THE RULES.

What you are doing Michael, in essence, is giving everyone a 25% bump in their chance of success, altering action economy, and negating the value of a high level class feature in a way that is explicitly contradicting the rules. The only time a passive check should be used as you describe is for Perception related to Traps and Surprise, since the rules explicitly tell you to do so.