[hal]

Something you may want to consider: Perception rolls prior to making a wait declaration...

The thing to point out to the GM or for a GM to keep in the back of his mind, is that the five senses are continuously in operation. For instance, a man waiting around a corner for an opponent, may be listening INTENTLY to get an idea of who might be coming. He might be listening for the betraying clanks and jingles of someone in chain or plate approaching the corner. If someone has been running, turned the corner, and chose to wait for his pursuer to round the corner, that someone may decide he might try and hold his breath so that his pursuer can't hear his heavy breathing.

In addition, as a youngster, I met two individuals who were foreigners who for what ever reason, would not bathe. At the supermarket where I worked, the cashiers who could take a break, go to the restroom etc, would RUN from their stations in an effort to NOT have to be the one who checked the groceries out for these two individuals because the stench was that bad. If you were downwind of them outside, and didn't know by spotting them on the visual, they were spotted by their stench hitting your nostrils from a distance as far away as 10 yards easily. So, perhaps they could be noted by their stench (Not that it helps to determine whether they are wearing heavy armor mind you!)

So, how to translate this into GURPS terms? Request of the GM "Is the individual using stealth?" not because you have the right to know if he's using stealth or not, but because you want to remind the GM, that it is his job to give you all the data your character should be privy to. Don't neglect the details of SOUND as well as VISION. Remind the GM that if the guy isn't using stealth, that you should be given hearing rolls to detect the individuals. Unfortunately, as best as I can determine, there are no rules for what happens when the armor clad individuals are NOT attempting stealth, and at what level of sound, the armor is making per the SOUND rules in GURPS CAMPAIGNS. :(

Looking more closely at the rules in GURPS LOW TECH, I find that the stealth penalty for wearing armor is equal to 1/2 the DR being worn. In addition, it specifies that the Encumbrance penalty, if worse, should be used instead of the the above mentioned. Note however, that these penalties are for someone ATTEMPTING to use Stealth to round a corner! If they aren't using stealth, one wonders if the hearing roll made by the listener is "automatic".

Putting this into perspective - someone wearing plate armor that has a DR of 5, would have a penalty of -3 to their stealth as they attempt to round the corner. When they move stealthily, they have to move no more then 1/2 their movement and be TRYING to move quietly. Same is true regarding chain armor - at least a penalty of -2 is assessed, (assuming their encumbrance level isn't worse).

In the end, this is something that is going to have to be hashed out with the GM - preferably in a non-confrontational manner. Good luck.