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Message: <blockquote data-quote="MGibster" data-source="post: 9768904" data-attributes="member: 4534">A big problem I used to have with my players was when they tried to play coy when gathering information.  What I mean by that is they would try to get information from NPCs without revealing that they were looking for that particular information.  i.e.  They're looking for a man named Bob, but they won't come out and tell the bartender they're looking for Bob.  I assume for the most part they've had DMs punish their characters in the past, but my players know I don't roll like that.  And this is one I kind of struggle with.  I like to tell my players, social skills aren't mind control.  You're not going to give a rousing speech talking the big bad evil villain from abandoning his plans for world domination.  You might be able to bluff him or persuade him in some ways, but he's not just going to fundamentally alter who he is just because you're good at persuading others.  The key to persuading people is to understand them.  I've told this one here before, but I was running a 1930s game set in New York where two of the PCs, police detectives, were trying to get information from a mid-level mobster.  One of the PCs threatened the NPC with arrest, but as seasoned detectives, I let them know threat of arrest wouldn't motivate him to sing.  The PCs tried another tact and were able to get the information they needed.  It's sometimes difficult to get a party to keep all the NPCs straight let alone keep track of their motivations.  But knowing the NPCs motivations, at least for important NPCs, make social interactions a lot better.</blockquote>

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