Do your players actually use "items" for roleplaying their skill checks?

[Emirikol]

Ok, so another thing came up in the game last night. Just about every skill has an item or tool associated with it right? Do your players actually use "items" for their skill checks? It seems that other than climbing tools in our game, nobody bothers to ever mention that they're using tools. Is a +2 bonus just not worth pursuing or is it probably just not worth bringing up during 'roleplaying.'

Do your players use the 'magnifying glass,' 'merchant's scale,'alchemist's lab,' or other masterwork tools? I think even the thieves tools aren't ever mentioned anymore in most games. It's just crap you have to purchase as a rogue right?

One last thing: are there any skills that don't have a NORMAL/NONMAGICAL item associated with them (search?..shouldn't there be something?)

jh

..

 

[RichGreen]

Hi,

They don't get mentioned much but most players have got the relevant gear on their character sheets (masterworks thieves tools, climber's kits, healer's kits). Not seen much use of the magnifying glass though.

Cheers


Richard

 

[Crothian]

They get mentioned when they are used, but we rarely use them with the skills.

 

[Emirikol]

That's the reason I ask. After seeing the posts about worthless skills, I started looking through the items in the equipment list and noticed some good benefits to players that maybe they're forgetting. FOr example, I always wondered what the heck the magnyfiing glass was used for..now I know BTW, DOes a masterwork Magnyfing glass give a +4 bonus?

jh

 

[HeapThaumaturgist]

I would assume the masterwork Magnifying glass would work that way, yea.

We "use tools", but I just mark them on my sheet and adjust my skill check accordingly. It's more rare, for instance, to have the rogue not be able to access his picks than for him to have them, so it is simpler to have the final modifier written down and put the -2 in there after the fact.



When I saw the title, I thought this was about role-playing at the table with props ... which my group does. They've even got some toy weapons to wave around while making pithy remarks about the BBEG's posterior.

--fje

 

[Thanee]

Do your players actually use "items" for their skill checks?

We use "descriptions".

Bye
Thanee

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Ok, so another thing came up in the game last night. Just about every skill has an item or tool associated with it right? Do your players actually use "items" for their skill checks? It seems that other than climbing tools in our game, nobody bothers to ever mention that they're using tools. Is a +2 bonus just not worth pursuing or is it probably just not worth bringing up during 'roleplaying.'

I run a lot more Modern than DnD. In Modern, most skills have a -4 penalty if you don't have the item or kit in question. Some require at least some kind of item - you can make a Disable Device check with a pin at -4, but if you only have your bare fingers, you can't use it at all.

Check if the tools are required, or if they only give a bonus. If they're just giving a bonus, why bother? It's only +2. Ranks are far more important than a tiny bonus like that. Plus, some DMs are sticklers for encumberance, and even if you're not, maybe some of your players have been taught by other DMs to carry as little stuff as possible. Some of those items (in both DnD and Modern) weigh quite a bit.

Also, IME, players often only skim the skills section.

Do your players use the 'magnifying glass,' 'merchant's scale,'alchemist's lab,' or other masterwork tools? I think even the thieves tools aren't ever mentioned anymore in most games. It's just crap you have to purchase as a rogue right?

Why bother with the mastercraft stuff? It's not the tool, it's the mind and hands that wield it In a game where most of the items you buy costs thousands of gp, and yet DMs frequently don't bother making PCs buy food, rooms at the inn or anything like that, some players feel like they shouldn't waste time crawling through the PH looking at the costs and weights of skill items.

One last thing: are there any skills that don't have a NORMAL/NONMAGICAL item associated with them (search?..shouldn't there be something?)

Concentration, Hide, Jump, Listen, Move Silently, Spot and all the Knowledge skill checks come to mind. There's probably others.

 

[Emirikol]

Masterwork Player Items

..xx

 

[Emirikol]

Non-item list: Concentration, Hide, Jump, Listen, Move Silently, Spot and all the Knowledge skill checks come to mind. There's probably others.

I don't know if any of these things actually exist, but I'm always looking for bizarre stuff to hand out as treasure that isn't necessarily magical.

Concentration: helmet
Hide: gray cloak or camo gear
Jump: springs? Not carrying 800 lbs?
Listen: Ear cone
Move silently: Low soft boots? That's a 1st edition joke there.
Spot: What is the Spyglass for?
Knowledge: books


http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/article/srd35

..