the Jester
Legend
How do you handle social interactions??? I personally usually roll the dice for a diplomacy check for my character (or npcs when I'm dming) and then roleplay about the level of the skill check...
Role playing and social skills
- Thread starter the Jester
- Start date
CRGreathouse
Community Supporter
I have the players explain what they'll do; depending on how convincing their arguments are, I'll give a bonus to the check. It's not so much an acting bonus as a Bluff-style bonus (like the +5, +0, -5, -10, -20 chart) - what, exactly, are you trying to convince them of?
Mark
CreativeMountainGames.com
I prefer to role-play, when playing, and only roll when the DM requires it.
When I DM, I roll for the NPCs and then role-play the situation based on those rolls. I make adjustments based on role-playing of the player(s) but don't allow it to supersede the roll. I also allow players to bring their dice to bear rather than role-playing it out, if they prefer, but require some explanation of their goals. I do this because if they are not grasping the situation, they might be applying the roll of the dice for the wrong reason and thus might not be successful based on their assumptions of the circumstances regardless of the roll of the dice.
When I DM, I roll for the NPCs and then role-play the situation based on those rolls. I make adjustments based on role-playing of the player(s) but don't allow it to supersede the roll. I also allow players to bring their dice to bear rather than role-playing it out, if they prefer, but require some explanation of their goals. I do this because if they are not grasping the situation, they might be applying the roll of the dice for the wrong reason and thus might not be successful based on their assumptions of the circumstances regardless of the roll of the dice.
Pretty much ditto what Mark does. I do factor in penalties for players who roleplay well, but whose charecters have poor social skills.
I however do not bump up the efforts of poor roleplayers whose charecters have good social skills, except if they are newbies. Call me biased, but I demand people really get IC.
I however do not bump up the efforts of poor roleplayers whose charecters have good social skills, except if they are newbies. Call me biased, but I demand people really get IC.
MythandLore
First Post
Umm... Yes, I alway play the fighter for that reason.EOL said:
Then another guy that pulls rabbits out of hats plays the wizard.
Then the pope plays our cleric and that pick pocket from the airport plays the rogue.
Our ahh.... DM is always a criminal master mind with an hidden underground fortress full of freaks and mythical beasts.
Lord Pendragon
First Post
Well, foregoing the social skills rolls entirely seems like a big kick in the rear to PCs who've invested skill points in those skills. After all, if a player can role-play an encounter regardless of a PC's weak ability, why put points into the skill in the first place, right?
That said, I go with the usual +2/-2 circumstance modifier for role-playing. Anything greater than that detracts from the value of the skill, IMO.
As for role-playing, I try to encourage that in other ways besides bonuses to social interaction. Thus far, I haven't had a problem getting the players to try to role-play out PC/NPC interaction, even if the response does boil down to their diplomacy check.
That said, I go with the usual +2/-2 circumstance modifier for role-playing. Anything greater than that detracts from the value of the skill, IMO.
As for role-playing, I try to encourage that in other ways besides bonuses to social interaction. Thus far, I haven't had a problem getting the players to try to role-play out PC/NPC interaction, even if the response does boil down to their diplomacy check.
BluWolf
Explorer
I let roleplaying and the situation dictate DC and then let them role thier skill to guage success.
The reason i do this is 2 fold;
1) Let players capitalize on skills they have invested in and reward people for taking non combat related skills
2) To keep me from being too prejudiced in either direction with my NPCs positions or attitudes.
For opposed roles I will take into consideration the setituation and the actions of the NPCs and the PCs. I will, usually, tell the PCs if there are any modifiers to the role, what the mod is and why.
I'll tell them about the mods usually earlier in the campaign so they can guage how I handle interactions. Eventually I stop doing that.
The reason i do this is 2 fold;
1) Let players capitalize on skills they have invested in and reward people for taking non combat related skills
2) To keep me from being too prejudiced in either direction with my NPCs positions or attitudes.
For opposed roles I will take into consideration the setituation and the actions of the NPCs and the PCs. I will, usually, tell the PCs if there are any modifiers to the role, what the mod is and why.
I'll tell them about the mods usually earlier in the campaign so they can guage how I handle interactions. Eventually I stop doing that.
Tom Cashel
First Post
Wow...seems close to consensus on this one. I give a bonus for good role-playing, and then let the dice fall where they may. It's a dice game, but you gotta give props for the role-playing.
Desdichado
Legend
For those who tell me I should simply roleplay social interactions, I say that takes a lot of the tension out of the game that only exists because of dice rolls. Not only that, players will --intentionally or not-- avoid taking social skills, because they don't matter anymore.
I enjoy the roleplaying aspect of social games, but when it comes to trying to intimidate, bluff, etc., the results are based on a dice roll.
I enjoy the roleplaying aspect of social games, but when it comes to trying to intimidate, bluff, etc., the results are based on a dice roll.
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