DMs, Do You Pander To Player Skills?

[Malin Genie]

In otherwords, if players have invested ranks in a skill, particularly an 'obscure' skill, do you try to ensure they have an opportunity to use it?

For example, would you go out of your way to have an item that initially appeared valueless but gave the character with +10 Appraise a chance to say "But no! This seemingly plain goblet is in fact an antique from the Gorg dynasty and collectors will pay up to 1,000gp for it!"? Or a map written in code that just happens to need the Decipher Script ranks the character so kindly invested in?

As primarily a player at the moment, I like the ability to use skills I've invested in - if the DM makes an effort to help them be useful it's great, but on the other hand it could be seen as 'contrived' to do this too much.

As I will be DMing soon, I'm interested to know how other DMs have handled this.

 

[diaglo]

no. it is upto the player to find a use for those rank skills.

 

[Piratecat]

Absolutely. A skill or class ability is no fun if the player never gets a chance to use it, and the game is all about the players having fun.

Mind you, this is the philosophy that led me to try and chop off limbs as soon as the party's cleric got regenerate. . .

 

[Cintra]

As a DM, I look at it the other way round - it's my responsibility to throw things in that require skill rolls, so if someone has the appropriate skills they get an advantage (or are just better able to accomplish something along the way), and if nobody has the required skill, too bad.

For example:

A heavy, well-worn tapestry with historical significance, that they only notice is valuable if they make the Appraise roll, otherwise they don't get the money

Interesting markings on the wall that provide clues which Decipher Script might reveal, helping them understand more about WHY the place they are in is the way it is

Combats taking place in areas which aren't normal floors, so that Climb and Balance and so forth are essential for everyone to be able to involve themselves fully (and so is some tactical sense to make sure you keep the stumpy dwarves with the rest of the group) - I LOVE throwing foes as the party while they're in the middle of using Climb or Balance skills, or when they have to make Jump checks to get to the various areas of the combat.

Whenever they meet a new monster, asking everyone who can to make the appropriate Knowledge roll, and letting them know what they figure out about the monster based on their rolls. (This has really encouraged Knowledge skills in our group, if only a rank or two in each so they can try to make the rolls.)

 

[WayneLigon]

I absolutely do. At some point in a campaign, everyone should get a chance to shine and to contribute. I apply this to backgrounds as well; if someone says they are from South Fnord, at some point that will become vital to a quest or mystery or something. (You notice the baron from South Fnord is peeling his apple clockwise. South Fnordians never, ever do that, as you and only you well know... something must be up.)

 

[Jdvn1]

Within reason.

I'm not going to go out of my way to make sure every character uses his Appraise skill, but if someone does try to use it then I'll try to make it interesting. Like, maybe a '50gp goblet' becomes a '50 gp silver and gold goblet with emerald inlays, probably used by nobility for special occasions.' If a player is really into his ability to Appraise, like that's a big part of his personality, then I'll try to throw in special stuff every once in a while.

 

[JackGiantkiller]

Yup. I try to make sure my PC's have a chance to use everything on their character sheet, at some point, especially background.

 

[Crothian]

Heck ya, I want the players to swee that their character choices matter and that they go go with obscure abilities with out fear of it being useless.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

I will echo the "within reason" response. My exceptions to the rule would be with the craft, knowledge and profession skills. Sometimes they can be a little too obscure to be useful without feeling contrived. "The evil is rumored to be from the region of central Westen Nowhere." "Cool, my character has ranks in Knowledge: local history:central Western Nowhere!"

 

[Jdvn1]

Yeah, like one of my players once took Profession (sailor). I never expected him to use it, but once he found a great use for it and saved the party a bit of trouble.