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Message: <blockquote data-quote="doctorbadwolf" data-source="post: 8316598" data-attributes="member: 6704184">In theory only! In practice, only a fairly new group even has to negotiate these things. Established groups have negotiated them, and know what to expect and which mechanics are in play, and how. What’s more, it’s a conversation even when the DM adjudicates, because players can freely challenge a ruling or suggest something different, and social norms then come into play.  Which is why I don’t recommend D&D by RAW for every group, and don’t really get the appeal of organized play unless you know the people involved. It runs better when you have a group of friends who know eachother and can communicate. I’ve never seen that happen in any game I’ve run where combat wasn’t going to be an important aspect of the campaign. I do see some classes not getting used, but that’s a whole different discussion. But most groups develop procedures and norms that govern their game, so no, at the table it isn’t the case that this is all free form. They know how DM Bob handles social challenges of various kinds, non-combat physical challenges, etc. they know how knowledge skills are used and how they’re not, whether expertise in a given skill is fluff or useful in Bob’s campaigns, etc.</blockquote>