D&D 5E Using social skills on other PCs

[TwoSix]

wow the perfect example of how it is an OLD SCHOOL idea

I don’t think clarifying action declaration is either a new school or old school thing, it’s just a RPG thing. Although it’s probably even more important for old-school RPG play, as it tends to crop up more during exploration scenarios.

I’m just amazed that you’ve never had a scenario like “I examine the desk.” “Ok, when you walk over to the desk the trap goes off...” “Wait, I meant I was visually examining the desk, not walking over.”

 

[Charlaquin]

Then why does it matter how they search the stupid desk? You're just having the same outcome with more steps. Maybe accept some people just don't want to engage much with certain pillars to get to the part of the game they find fun. Let them roll (as the outcome is uncertain due to low player input) and move on. A filed roll might still get the clue, just make a mess, noise, or take longer.

As no one here is an expert in trap construction/disarming, it's all pointless faffery, often where the DM thinks they are conveying one thing, and multiple players are drawing multiple different conclusions. Do you force someone to describe their swordthrusts? I mean, most of us know about as much about fighting as traps or searching for hidden compartments.

You seem to be very caught up on the degree of descriptive detail, which as has been said many times, is not what we care about.

 

[Nefermandias]

My preference for declarations of action isn’t even something I advise other DMs to adopt, that’s a me thing.

I'm just letting you know that I share your preference for clearly stated actions and I honestly believe that if more DMs adopted it, the gaming experience at their tables would improve greatly.

I spend enough time on Reddit to know that half of the problems people bring up there would never occur in the first place if players knew how to declare actions properly. Seriously people, it's super important.

 

[HammerMan]

Yes, I'll concede that point. Not the timeline...because when I played in the 80s it was all about "I roll to detect traps", "I roll to see if he's lying", "I roll to look for secret doors", etc.

But, you're right, that wasn't necessarily Gygax-driven.

Okay, how in the 80's did you roll to detect lies? even 2e NWP didn't have an insight

 

[HammerMan]

I’m just amazed that you’ve never had a scenario like “I examine the desk.” “Ok, when you walk over to the desk the trap goes off...” “Wait, I meant I was visually examining the desk, not walking over.”

once or twice in many years, and not (I can think of) once in 5e

 

[Swarmkeeper]

I'm just letting you know that I share your preference for clearly stated actions and I honestly believe that if more DMs adopted it, the gaming experience at their tables would improve greatly.

I spend enough time in Reddit to know that half of the problems people bring up there would never occur in the first place if players knew how to declare actions properly. Seriously people, it's super important.

Hear hear. I learned this a few years back reading the Enworld contributions of @Charlaquin and @iserith, among others, and haven't looked back. My table is grateful.

 

[Bill Zebub]

Maybe accept some people just don't want to engage much with certain pillars to get to the part of the game they find fun. Let them roll (as the outcome is uncertain due to low player input) and move on. A filed roll might still get the clue, just make a mess, noise, or take longer.

I fully accept that. I'm just describing how I like to play.

I'm not telling you, "Maybe accept that some people want to engage with the world and they like all pillars? Stop just asking them to roll dice like it's a board game." You play the way you want. I'm just describing how I like to play, with people who also seem to like it (when they can get over their ingrained habits).

As no one here is an expert in trap construction/disarming, it's all pointless faffery, often where the DM thinks they are conveying one thing, and multiple players are drawing multiple different conclusions. Do you force someone to describe their swordthrusts? I mean, most of us know about as much about fighting as traps or searching for hidden compartments.

None of us are experts in combat, either, but we don't resolve combats with a single die roll.

Sure, picking a lock is a tricky case. But LOTS of devices and locks and traps are larger and more complex. "I pound a stake into the hold I think the arrow will come out of?" "I'll try to estimate how much the idol weighs, and fill a bag of sand to the same weight, and as I take the idol I try to put the bag back really quickly." Whatever.

If you just say, "Yes, it's a trap" that won't work of course. But if you describe the trap, players will think of clever ways to disarm it. And if they are clever enough I, as DM, won't even make them roll.

But, if you rather just play so that it's, "It's an arrow trap." "I rolled a 23 on Disarm." "Ok, it's disarmed." Go right ahead and be my guest.

 

[Bill Zebub]

You seem to be very caught up on the degree of descriptive detail, which as has been said many times, is not what we care about.

Considering how many people here say, "I used to play the way you did, and reading Enworld I learned this new way, and it's really fun. I encourage you to try it," you'd think more other people would be just a tiny bit more curious and interested...if puzzled exactly how it works...instead of just looking for ways to prove it would never work.

 

[Maxperson]

View attachment 147941
I am just going to say that there is NO consensus on if skills work on PCs,

That poll was written poorly.

 

[Maxperson]

Okay, how in the 80's did you roll to detect lies? even 2e NWP didn't have an insight

Probably a wisdom roll. Stat checks were a thing back then.