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

[Maxperson]

because I can not remember a time (although I admit I may just not be remembering) where the answer was 'tell the DM the right furniture I move' and I instant find the door... the scene would most likely play out with passive perceptions in my games.

again why I would not dedicate time to it if it was just move 1 item and then open to anyone. I am sorry I missunderstood your example (but notice unlike everyone that accuses me of taking player agency when you tell me I am wrong I apologize for the misunderstanding)

No worries! I think it comes down to different playstyles. My players and I, and this is probably because most of us go back to 1e/2e, prefer to interact with the environment, rather than just rely on perception/passive perception. We would rather take the time to rifle through the drawers of the desk to see if we find anything valuable, rather than just leaving to a roll or passive perception. We would rather look behind the tapestry or bookcase ourselves.

I mean the old miser on the top of a hill doesn't sound like someone I would put a lot of effort into fleshing out unless the players spent time looking into or talking to him

If I was doing that, it would be because he and his house were important in some way.

 

[Swarmkeeper]

again... you guys love to accuse others of filling in missing information (even if they tell you they are not) then you added a search roll where I woul just have it be based on passive... or not have it at all.

Dude, I'm asking you a basic question, not accusing you of anything.

The misinterpretation is too high here.

Happy gaming.

 

[iserith]

again... you guys love to accuse others of filling in missing information (even if they tell you they are not) then you added a search roll where I woul just have it be based on passive... or not have it at all.

and again Swarmkeeper... if there was a secret worth spending time searching the rooms for and they made a search check with 0 or little details why would they THEN decide to start giving more details... in that version they already searched.

Likely people are probing for coherency in your approach so they can figure out what they would have to do as players in the context of your game. I am not actually sure myself having read your posts except that I know my action declaration can be as little as a single word while holding up a die. I also think I could probably never count on adv/disadv unless I have a feature that lets me have it (and that Inspiration is not used). I have no sense of when you would or wouldn't call for a check or when it would or wouldn't be passive, nor how you calculate a DC.

 

[Maxperson]

again... you guys love to accuse others of filling in missing information (even if they tell you they are not) then you added a search roll where I woul just have it be based on passive... or not have it at all.

There was no accusation or addition from me. I said "think" for a reason, rather than he "would" do. All I have is this discussion to go on and it's hard to keep track of who said what and to who. I was trying to get it right, but leaving open the possibility that I was wrong, not paint you in some negative light.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Outside of that, we have two camps.

Me? I'm fine with descriptions, and do push for some vague descriptions on social skills. This is all based on intent though. If I understand the player's intent, they could say or describe anything, and I will accept it. Additionally, I do not want that intent circumvented and denied because the DM imagines my exact method would automatically fail.

@GMforPowergamers makes some incredibly good points about challenging the characters, not the players. And I largely agree with them. We would probably quibble over social skills, but I largely agree that the it is best to assume the PC is competent with their skills, and knows better than the player.

I mean just FYI... I never turn DOWN rp fluff and detail

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Dude, I'm asking you a basic question, not accusing you of anything.

The misinterpretation is too high here.

Happy gaming.

You and max said I would just have them say "Its' just a perception or search check"

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Likely people are probing for coherency in your approach so they can figure out what they would have to do as players in the context of your game. I am not actually sure myself having read your posts except that I know my action declaration can be as little as a single word while holding up a die. I also think I could probably never count on adv/disadv unless I have a feature that lets me have it (and that Inspiration is not used). I have no sense of when you would or wouldn't call for a check or when it would or wouldn't be passive, nor how you calculate a DC.

I mean my house ruled DC scale isn't something we need to discuss... but in general it is pretty close to teh easy/moderate/hard of the book just not exact.

in general you are correct. You can give as much or as little detail as you wish and it can change from one scene encounter or situation to the next. I will attempt to match your energy and style... so the more you care about something and want it to be important the more you should pay attention to and put details into that.

I don't use inspiration or flanking... and you can count on having advantage on about half your rolls in any given night and disadvantage on about 1/4 of them... based on a ball park estimate of how my players do things ( great deal coming from spells or items or aid another) but some from equipment weather lighting. (and sometimes disadvantage on everything for 1d4 weeks cause you and the party pissed off the god of luck)

The NPCs you spend time with (hateing, loving, making friends with, making contacts with, asking for favors and doing favors) will become recurring and slowly over the game get more and more stated... Ones you ignore will fade into the background.

when I call for a check I use the real world as my rule of thumb... can 2 people attempt this and 1 do it and 1 fail to do it... that makes the outcome uncertain... HOWEVER then when I set the DC if it is 11 or less (and again we are talking about upping that) and you are prof you STILL auto make it... also if your modifier +1 makes the DC you can auto make it (cause duh) However I then add a final qustion in my head 'does anyone care' like yeah climbing a tree that isn't helpful may not matter in the long OR short run but do teh players care enough to send someone trained in climbing?

 

[overgeeked]

I can see it.

A tapestry is something easily and normally movable. A player saying they want their character to look behind the tapestry, no roll...they just do it.

A bookcase full of books is not something easily and normally movable. A player saying they want their character to look behind the bookcase, roll to see if they can: 1) physically move the bookcase full of books, and/or; 2) find the mechanism by which the door-concealing bookcase moves. Unless the player describes their character's actions in such a way as to obviate the need for a roll. For example, the bookcase has the classic "false-book lever" to swing it open. If the player describes testing the entire bookcase of books to see if moving one triggers anything, no roll required as it just takes time...unless you feel like making it a roll for time and noise, etc.

 

[Swarmkeeper]

"I climb the wall" which got the response "I need to know which wall, so I know whether or not you triggered the trap"

You say we are projecting, but... there it is. The goal of asking for more information in these scenarios isn't because the player hasn't described what they want to do, it is that they haven't described what they do in sufficient detail to determine if they triggered the trap.

Providing challenges to players is not the same as "gotcha" DMing. You are making too many assumptions about DMs posting here.

Plus, I thought I told you I disengaged?

 

[GMforPowergamers]

There was no accusation or addition from me. I said "think" for a reason, rather than he "would" do. All I have is this discussion to go on and it's hard to keep track of who said what and to who. I was trying to get it right, but leaving open the possibility that I was wrong, not paint you in some negative light.

right... but again, you were trying to use the context and added something I didn't say... but in a thread where I am being told I can ONLY do what I say by adding things to what my players say... even as I say it's fade to black.