[RPG] How does Bardic Inspiration work with Passive Perception

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Bardic Inspiration

You can inspire others through stirring words or music. To do so, you use a Bonus Action on your turn to choose one creature other than yourself within 60 feet of you who can hear you. That creature gains one Bardic Inspiration die, a d6.

Once within the next 10 minutes, the creature can roll the die and add the number rolled to one ability check, Attack roll, or saving throw it makes. The creature can wait until after it rolls the d20 before deciding to use the Bardic Inspiration die, but must decide before the DM says whether the roll succeeds or fails. Once the Bardic Inspiration die is rolled, it is lost. A creature can have only one Bardic Inspiration die at a time.

My question is quite simple: How does this work with Passive Perception?

Firstly since Passive Perception is an ability check I assume it is a valid use of Bardic Inspiration, but I have read many different interpretations on Passive Perception on here; including DM's doing it slyly, even pretending to make checks to keep people off guard.

Passive Perception is 'always on' so how would you handle this? Do you just add 3 (The rounded up average for the d6) to the check for 10 mins?

Best Answer

It doesn't help passive anything.

The key word here is Passive Perception. Think of it as the character's AC against stealth. It's there so that the DM doesn't have to ask for a Perception check any time someone is trying to sneak up on the party. To help emphasise the point, consider this line from the inspire ability.

The creature can wait until after it rolls the d20

You don't roll anything for a passive skill, so nothing for the inspire die to boost.

It helps with active rolls

What you can do however, is inspire someone who is actively rolling a Perception check. If your party thinks they need to actively look around you can maximize the roll by doing a few things at once.

First pick the person with the highest Perception skill. Then any other party member can preform the Help action, granting advantage on the roll. Then the bard inspires the character, adding the die into the pool. The end result will be a very high chance at a much higher roll than a normal Passive Perception.