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<blockquote data-quote="Swarmkeeper" data-source="post: 9060061" data-attributes="member: 6921763"><p>Not exactly. Players generally make statements rather than asking questions at our table. So instead of "Can I pick the lock?" it's "My rogue attempts to pick the lock (with her thieves' tools)". The DM then adjudicates based on the situation.</p><p></p><p></p><p>This last bit is incorrect. The player does not necessarily end up having to roll a d20 at our table. Sometimes it is an auto-success. Sometimes it is an auto-failure. No roll is asked for by the DM at our table for those situations. And so, it follows, that the players don't know that the DM is "going to ask for [it] anyway". I mean, it is possible a roll might be required, but it is not a given.</p><p></p><p></p><p>And, at our table, we don't require them to explain why they have arcana, history, or whatever either. A PC does not necessarily need to have proficiency in a skill to be able to roll a check at our table. But if their character <em>is</em> proficient in the skill mentioned in the requested check, then they can add their proficiency bonus to the roll. If they feel something about their character's background, class/racial abilities, training, etc is pertinent to the situation, it's helpful to mention it so the DM can adjudicate with that in mind.</p><p></p><p></p><p>To be clear, players at our table know how to the play the game, too. We just prefer not to "shortcut it".</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Swarmkeeper, post: 9060061, member: 6921763"] Not exactly. Players generally make statements rather than asking questions at our table. So instead of "Can I pick the lock?" it's "My rogue attempts to pick the lock (with her thieves' tools)". The DM then adjudicates based on the situation. This last bit is incorrect. The player does not necessarily end up having to roll a d20 at our table. Sometimes it is an auto-success. Sometimes it is an auto-failure. No roll is asked for by the DM at our table for those situations. And so, it follows, that the players don't know that the DM is "going to ask for [it] anyway". I mean, it is possible a roll might be required, but it is not a given. And, at our table, we don't require them to explain why they have arcana, history, or whatever either. A PC does not necessarily need to have proficiency in a skill to be able to roll a check at our table. But if their character [I]is[/I] proficient in the skill mentioned in the requested check, then they can add their proficiency bonus to the roll. If they feel something about their character's background, class/racial abilities, training, etc is pertinent to the situation, it's helpful to mention it so the DM can adjudicate with that in mind. To be clear, players at our table know how to the play the game, too. We just prefer not to "shortcut it". [/QUOTE]
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