Detecting Secret Doors

[The Archivist]

In OD&D elves are noted as being more able to detect secret and hidden doors. Has anyone house ruled this ability for dwarves? (looking at a no thief campaign) Any thoughts on why an elf would be more able to find secret or hidden doors than a dwarf? Especially since dwarves are able to note slanting passages, traps, shifting walls and new construction in underground settings.

It always seemed to me that dwarves would have the edge over elves in detecting anything out of true when it comes to surfaces, if they are easily able to note slanting passages, traps, shifting walls and new contruction in underground settings, it seems that they would have an advantage with any surface where there is an edge or seam such as doors.

[tetramorph]

I read you.

I can see the dwarven ability to note shifting / new / odd construction as helping towards finding a secret door.

Maybe elves just have some uncanny sense about being tricked or for hidden things!

[Samson and Solomon]

Elves detect on a 1-4 on a d6 when searching and detect on a 1-2 on a d6 when just passing by. Does anyone know why elves get such a high chance of detecting secret doors?

[ffilz]

I have decided to give the same ability to dwarves.

For elves, I'm assuming there's some fictional reason. Interestingly the text just says they get a clue "something" is up, my take is they STILL need to search for the secret door (succeeding on a 1-4 on a d6).

Frank

[scottanderson]

A little breeze, a slight change in temperature or odor... it's the Princess and the Pea syndrome. Elves are so sensitive that they just notice these things.