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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Voadam" data-source="post: 2573895" data-attributes="member: 2209">As a DM I haven't called for a skill check in the last year that I can remember in my high level game. I find them generally unnecessary mechanically and distracting when running a game. Maybe I had the arcane trickster rolling a disable device check for a DC 35 magic trap, but he gets those easy.For a while when I started DMing 3e I tried applying the skill checks as written in the srd but it was annoying (one party member with a +23 listen, others with +2) and often led to wierd situations (with diplomacy, et al.) where results were completely contrary to how things were being roleplayed and leading to forced unnatural interactions with NPCs.I was forcing the game to fit these poor mechanics for no real benefit to the game. This It was unpleasant as a DM. was backwards to how things should be. Mechanics should benefit the game or not be used.Then I decided I would eyeball the PCs stats and skills, consider their characterization of the character and adjudicate most skill type things on the fly unless there was significant physical mechanical effects like feinting, tumbling, or concentration (but by 15th level all the casters autosuccess defensive casting so no roll was needed). So the dwarven cleric of a knowledge god who comes from a smithing background got a lot of google information on wierd metal blades (arsenic bronze) used by ancient cultists that they found. No skill checks, I decided it was appropriate and cool so he got the info. It added to the game and we then moved on to more explorations and physical investigations.For some things like searches I did a take 10 calculation and used that for my secret checks. Made adjudicating swifter and not usually something where dice rolling adds to the game more than a good description and having them react to the results does.I've been happier DMing the game and it has run great. There is plenty of investigation, NPC interaction, non combat activity, and combat. I reiterate IMO & IME skills are largely unnecessary mechanically for D&D.</blockquote>

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