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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Oofta" data-source="post: 6986700" data-attributes="member: 6801845">As with others, I set a DC that makes sense for the situation.  So what factors go into it?Motivation of the NPC: there's a spectrum of motivations, everywhere from a hired mercenary to a devout cultist who will not talk under any circumstance.<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Do they owe allegiance to the leader?  This can be anything from "somebody hired me to do a job" to "I will never betray my father".</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Do they fear the leader?  Will their life be forfeit if they tell? "You can kill me, but if I tell you The Boss will kill me after watching my family die."</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Do they have a personal code of honor that would prevent them from saying anything?  This is a cultural/alignment thing. I can see goblins backstabbing each other on a regular basis, whereas a lawful black knight would not.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Are they brainwashed/ensorcelled?  Magic may prevent them from speaking even if they wanted to do so.  On the other hand, they may have just had a suggestion spell cast on them.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">What will be the aftermath? What happens to the NPC if they fess up? Can they gett away scott free with no one the wiser, or will others know what happened.  Will their reputation suffer?</li> </ul>So a hired mercenary that does not fear the person that hired them, may be an easy DC 5.  A cultist who believes they owe their very existence to the great leader will be DC 20 or higher.Charisma of the NPC: Since charisma is supposed to represent force of will, an extremely low or high charisma may modify the number I came up with based on the motivation of the NPC.PC's notoriety and race: Does the NPC know the group's reputation?  Is there a particular racial hatred or fear? Is the group known to keep their promises, or to be particularly vicious. Did the PCs just wipe out the goblin's village?  That could make the NPC more fearful, or could mean that they hate the PCs and will refuse to talk.PC's actions and words: How do the PCs react?  Do the NPC says that they will protect the NPC if they talk, or threaten to broadcast that the NPC helped them whether or not they talk?  This doesn't necessarily change the DC but I may grant advantage/disadvantage on the roll.One last note - getting someone to talk doesn't necessarily mean that they are telling the truth. Scare or torture someone enough and they will tell you what they think you want to hear.  In some cases, they may even be giving out info the BBEG wants the PCs to know.</blockquote>

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