D&D 5E Modeling Uncertainty

[iserith]

In before [MENTION=97077]iserith[/MENTION] points out that he'd consider having to roll as "losing," that what the player should be aiming for is earning automatic success.

I am so predictable. I was just about to type this very thing when I read your post!

I guess predictability is a measure of consistency, so I'll take it.

 

[Satyrn]

That was my intent, to point out the consistency.

 

[Satyrn]

Although I was aiming for a laugh, not XP.

 

[wedgeski]

Something to consider: If players really love the uncertainty, why bother to trying to angle for an Insight check at all?

It's all relative. They like being able to specialise. While a point or two might not make a difference, the "reader" PC with exceptional instincts will be trusted when there's disagreement.

 

[Guest 6801328]

It's all relative. They like being able to specialise. While a point or two might not make a difference, the "reader" PC with exceptional instincts will be trusted when there's disagreement.

Bingo.

It's the "seed of doubt" I'm trying to quantify, not "total cluelessness".

 

[Guest 6801328]

'Realistically' (ick), better-trained people perform tasks more consistently. Also, more obscurely, less-knowledgeable people tend to overestimate their understanding of a subject. So if you really have no idea what you're doing, you may well have no idea when you're really screwed up.

So it might make sense to vary the die size inversely with proficiency bonus, maybe:

+0 ... d12
+2 ... d8
+3-4 .. d6
+5-6 .. d4

You lost me on this. If a 1 is rolled on the die then the result is actually a failure, but the player doesn't know it. So increasing the die size decreases the probability of being wrong.

What am I missing?

 

[BookBarbarian]

Nor should you be, because most of the world plays that way.

I've seen new players once they see how some situations are resolved with dice assume all situations are. Then they start asking if they can roll for it. So I wouldn't be surprised at all if this was how most of the world plays.

After deciding to try a "What do you do?" DMing method, it takes a while for players to try shift to the new paradigm.

I've seen three stages of behavior:

1. The player grabs the dice and asks to make a roll, and then is baffled when I ask "What are you trying to do and how are you trying to do it?"

2. The player states their approach then grabs the dice and wants to roll, and is then baffled and perhaps slightly disappointed when I narrate a success without rolling.

3. The player states their approach then waits for my response.

It's very much a process to get to stage 3.

Also this is a very nice thread. I really enjoy seeing different DMing styles

 

[Tony Vargas]

What am I missing?

I think I was missing something....

 

[Bawylie]

I've seen new players once they see how some situations are resolved with dice assume all situations are. Then they start asking if they can roll for it. So I wouldn't be surprised at all if this was how most of the world plays.

After deciding to try a "What do you do?" DMing method, it takes a while for players to try shift to the new paradigm.

I've seen three stages of behavior:

1. The player grabs the dice and asks to make a roll, and then is baffled when I ask "What are you trying to do and how are you trying to do it?"

2. The player states their approach then grabs the dice and wants to roll, and is then baffled and perhaps slightly disappointed when I narrate a success without rolling.

3. The player states their approach then waits for my response.

It's very much a process to get to stage 3.

Also this is a very nice thread. I really enjoy seeing different DMing styles

For brand new players, this takes me about an hour.

For grognards and old school veterans, this takes me about one session.

3rd ed players, it can take me a little longer, sometimes two sessions. But, since I start each session with a preamble covering how I run the game, I find players adapt quickly.


-Brad

 

[BookBarbarian]

For brand new players, this takes me about an hour.

For grognards and old school veterans, this takes me about one session.

3rd ed players, it can take me a little longer, sometimes two sessions. But, since I start each session with a preamble covering how I run the game, I find players adapt quickly.


-Brad

I usually do a similar preamble, though I find my players still seem to slip back. They may just be special, or we might just not be playing enough for it to sink in.