D&D General "I make a perception check."

[Reynard]

The only problem I’ve seen with a high level of specificity with respect to examining things, a room, an environment and so on is that it can result in a never-ending series of dice rolls. If I make my players make a perception check for each object they search in a busy room, my players start feeling like they‘re in dice-rolling hell.

Why would you do that? Just find out what they are doing, how they are going about it, and call for whatever roll (singular) if any you think they need to determine what they find.

 

[payn]

It's not even that. It is literally "I make a perception check" as the sole declaration of the player. THAT is what I take issue with. If the player includes ANY sort of in fiction action, we can at least begin the conversation about what the PC is doing and whether those actions will translate into the need for the player to make a roll. Characters don't make rolls.

I get it. My approach is to ask probing questions about what the character is doing and what they want to accomplish. I know you want the player to be proactive, but sometimes that behavior needs to be lead first.

 

[Reynard]

I get it. My approach is to ask probing questions about what the character is doing and what they want to accomplish. I know you want the player to be proactive, but sometimes that behavior needs to be lead first.

Sure. My rant was more that I have been doing that thing for years with certain players and those specific players still open with "I make a perception roll."

 

[GMforPowergamers]

What could possibly have given you that impression based on what I wrote?

you said you would not give a perception check for someone who tried to declare they actively looked

 

[payn]

Sure. My rant was more that I have been doing that thing for years with certain players and those specific players still open with "I make a perception roll."

Old habbits die hard. You can lead a gamer to mountain dew, but you cant make em drink.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Sure. My rant was more that I have been doing that thing for years with certain players and those specific players still open with "I make a perception roll."

have you considered that they may NEVER change? they may for ever just say things they way they feel most comfortable?

 

[Reynard]

have you considered that they may NEVER change? they may for ever just say things they way they feel most comfortable?

That's why it is called a rant, my man.

 

[tetrasodium]

It's not even that. It is literally "I make a perception check" as the sole declaration of the player. THAT is what I take issue with. If the player includes ANY sort of in fiction action, we can at least begin the conversation about what the PC is doing and whether those actions will translate into the need for the player to make a roll. Characters don't make rolls.

I've taken to just declaring things like "OK guys during this tense moment Bob assumes a glico man like prayer position and recites the prayer of perception. The gods do not respond"

 

[Reynard]

you said you would not give a perception check for someone who tried to declare they actively looked

I did?

 

[Charlaquin]

you said you would not give a perception check for someone who tried to declare they actively looked

I think it would be more accurate to say @Reynard wouldn’t make them make a perception check. He would just narrate the results of successfully looking around, because there’s really no way to fail at that, so a check is unnecessary.