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Message: <blockquote data-quote="iserith" data-source="post: 7790649" data-attributes="member: 97077">My usual line on this topic, which is taken from the rules:The DM calls for an ability check when the player describes what he or she wants the character to do as something that has an uncertain outcome and a meaningful consequence for failure. If the task isn't trivially easy or impossible, some kind of roll is appropriate. What a DM considers trivially easy, impossible, or uncertain will vary from DM to DM and fictional situation to fictional situation.The player does not get to decide if there is an ability check and may not ask for one (nor, arguably, should a player want to roll a fickle d20 anyway), though the player may ask if a skill proficiency applies to an ability check the DM has already called for. Some DMs like me just call for the ability check and then the player adds the appropriate skill proficiency as the group operates on the assumption that the player is playing in good faith and will apply the proficiency that matches the description of what he or she wanted to do.The use of "magic words" in the poll also means I will not answer the poll. That is loaded language that has a bad history of use in discussions on these forums in my view. I'm happy to discuss this topic, but that sort of thing is not helpful as I see it.</blockquote>