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If an NPC is telling the truth, what's the Insight DC to know they're telling the truth?
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<blockquote data-quote="Oofta" data-source="post: 7586920" data-attributes="member: 6801845"><p>Not entirely directed at you, but this has been a recurring issue.</p><p></p><p>Scenario 1:</p><p>The NPC is telling the truth. The player (for whatever reason) is suspicious.</p><p></p><p>How I'd handle it:</p><p>DM as NPC: "I don't know anything about the missing jewels"</p><p>Player: "I don't believe him. " Rolling dice "I get an 18 insight" </p><p> or: "I don't believe him, can I roll an insight?"</p><p> or: "I don't believe him, does he look like he's trying to be deceptive?"</p><p>DM: ask for an insight roll if they didn't already give one. DM rolls dice and ignores result responding "They seem to be telling the truth"</p><p></p><p>In this scenario I don't care how the player declares what they're trying to do. The intent is clear. If they roll high enough I may give them some additional info that the NPC is nervous about something but not necessarily lying. Low enough? Maybe they believe the NPC is lying. Depends on specifics.</p><p></p><p>Scenario 2:</p><p>The NPC is lying.</p><p></p><p>See above with appropriate results. I never say "they're lying" it would be "they don't seem to be telling the truth" or "they seem to be hiding something. Failed insight? "They seem to be telling the truth".</p><p></p><p>Scenario 3:</p><p>The door is trapped. </p><p></p><p>If the PCs have declared ahead of time they're being cautious I'll ask for an investigation to find the trap. In no way does that mean they grab the contact-poison covered door handle. I may ask for checks now and then even on untrapped doors, depends on the game and mood I'm trying to set.</p><p></p><p>If the PCs are moving at a normal pace, I'll probably use passive investigation possibly with an increased DC.</p><p></p><p>If the PCs are moving quickly (i.e. bravely retreating from the ancient red dragon they just pissed off), they probably won't get a check.</p><p></p><p>If the door is not trapped but they still want to investigate it for traps, I let them. The response will be "the door does not appear to be trapped".</p><p></p><p>Scenario 4:</p><p>Disarming a trap.</p><p></p><p>Most of the time I'll just call for a check. Occasionally I'll make it more difficult and ask for details because it requires multiple actions or something that's potentially risky from the perspective of the PC.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Oofta, post: 7586920, member: 6801845"] Not entirely directed at you, but this has been a recurring issue. Scenario 1: The NPC is telling the truth. The player (for whatever reason) is suspicious. How I'd handle it: DM as NPC: "I don't know anything about the missing jewels" Player: "I don't believe him. " Rolling dice "I get an 18 insight" or: "I don't believe him, can I roll an insight?" or: "I don't believe him, does he look like he's trying to be deceptive?" DM: ask for an insight roll if they didn't already give one. DM rolls dice and ignores result responding "They seem to be telling the truth" In this scenario I don't care how the player declares what they're trying to do. The intent is clear. If they roll high enough I may give them some additional info that the NPC is nervous about something but not necessarily lying. Low enough? Maybe they believe the NPC is lying. Depends on specifics. Scenario 2: The NPC is lying. See above with appropriate results. I never say "they're lying" it would be "they don't seem to be telling the truth" or "they seem to be hiding something. Failed insight? "They seem to be telling the truth". Scenario 3: The door is trapped. If the PCs have declared ahead of time they're being cautious I'll ask for an investigation to find the trap. In no way does that mean they grab the contact-poison covered door handle. I may ask for checks now and then even on untrapped doors, depends on the game and mood I'm trying to set. If the PCs are moving at a normal pace, I'll probably use passive investigation possibly with an increased DC. If the PCs are moving quickly (i.e. bravely retreating from the ancient red dragon they just pissed off), they probably won't get a check. If the door is not trapped but they still want to investigate it for traps, I let them. The response will be "the door does not appear to be trapped". Scenario 4: Disarming a trap. Most of the time I'll just call for a check. Occasionally I'll make it more difficult and ask for details because it requires multiple actions or something that's potentially risky from the perspective of the PC. [/QUOTE]
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If an NPC is telling the truth, what's the Insight DC to know they're telling the truth?
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