D&D 5E (2024) How can I do a Charisma-Investigation (or a Strength/Dexterity-Investigation if I can't use Charisma) to find a secret door?

[DrJawaPhD]

Obviously, your group needs to reconsider dumping INT.

I wouldn't go that far. The difference between dumping INT and bumping it to something above average like 12 is a difference of TWO on the skillcheck, where the Die roll randomness swings from 1 to 20. No matter what the roll is mostly based on random luck. Dumping Int to put more points that actually help routinely is almost certainly still the correct call

 

[Maxperson]

Running your fingers across possible seams, checking out whether sconces turn or books in a book case don't come out because they are actually mechanism levers, seeing if any bricks or stones move under pressure, that sort of thing.

In my opinion, those are things you do as part of an intelligence investigation check to figure out how to open a secret door.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I wouldn't go that far. The difference between dumping INT and bumping it to something above average like 12 is a difference of TWO on the skillcheck, where the Die roll randomness swings from 1 to 20. No matter what the roll is mostly based on random luck. Dumping Int to put more points that actually help routinely is almost certainly still the correct call

The question for me is, how is the fact that your entire group is low intelligence reflected in the fiction? What's their process for making decisions? With all the charisma mentioned, I'm thinking the party is Zoolander & Co.

 

[ECMO3]

Is the rogue no longer there? Did he just disappear into thin air or did he just not enter the dungeon with you at all?

Sorry I thought I was clear. He is out of the game for two weeks due to real life stuff.

We were fine when he was still there.

 

[ECMO3]

What is the DC the DM is asking for? How many people are left in the party? Say you have have 4 other PCs and a DC of 15 to find, wouldn't 4 rolls even at -1 mean that the party would find some of them?

Around 15-18 I think. We found one on a natural 20 (19).

We only have 4 players normally and the Rogue (who has a good investigation) is out.

 

[ECMO3]

Well, as others have already noted, your character can't use charisma to find secret doors, absent very specific circumstances (such as finding an NPC that knows where they are and persuading them to tell you).

On the other hand, you, the player, can!

You can intimidate the DM. Nice game you got here. Shame if anything happened to it. Say, are there any secret rooms in here?

You can persuade the DM. I hear your partner needs a new coat. What's that $100 bill doing by the DM screen? Anyway, any secret doors in here?

You can deceive the DM. I heard some weird noises coming from the kitchen- you should check it out. I'll make sure no one looks at the map while you're gone.

Ha Ha!

Unfortunately that would be based on my Player Charisma, not my Character Charisma .... and as a player mine is not very good.

 

[DrJawaPhD]

The question for me is, how is the fact that your entire group is low intelligence reflected in the fiction? What's their process for making decisions? With all the charisma mentioned, I'm thinking the party is Zoolander & Co.

Standard "dump stat" means 8, and the OP specifically did say they all had -1 Int modifier so 8 or 9 as their Int stat. That's just a below average intelligence person, not some moron who can't make decisions.

At an 8-9 intelligence you shouldn't be roleplaying your PC as coming up with elaborate multi-layers strategies or anything, but you don't need to act like a buffoon

 

[Rune]

Standard "dump stat" means 8, and the OP specifically did say they all had -1 Int modifier so 8 or 9 as their Int stat. That's just a below average intelligence person, not some moron who can't make decisions.

At an 8-9 intelligence you shouldn't be roleplaying your PC as coming up with elaborate multi-layers strategies or anything, but you don't need to act like a buffoon

Or, you could roleplay them as always coming up with overcomplicated schemes that never work because they inevitably miss some important and obvious detail.

 

[MechaTarrasque]

Charisma is sometimes described as "force of personality", so Investigation (Charisma) is just the PC being obsessed enough to pound on everything in the room until you find the door "he/she knows is there." I would say it takes an hour and is too noisy for the rest of the party to get a short rest, and a failed check means the loud noise attracted a monster.

 

[Maxperson]

Sorry I thought I was clear. He is out of the game for two weeks due to real life stuff.

We were fine when he was still there.

I've been in groups that play like that, but it drives me crazy. The rogue is with the group, he should be able to be played by someone else or as an NPC by the DM.