D&D General Perception vs Investigation

[AlViking]

Well, we need stats for physical abilities, to resolve physical tasks through game mechanics.

No, but you can only think of things you can think of, so in a game about making decisions as you imagine your character would, your character can’t make smart decisions if you can’t. That’s just the reality of the medium.

Sure, but we don’t actually need stats for that. At least not stats for “intelligence” and “wisdom.” That really has more to do with the character’s background and experiences, which skills have covered.

There’s no issue to playing someone you’re not. I agree that’s at least half the point of the game, arguably the whole point. We don’t need to be constraining roleplay with numerical stats for mental abilities. Just roleplay.

I just disagree, in a game where spells are dependent on a stat, we need numbers. It's not about making decisions, nobody expects the player of a genius to actually be a genius any more than they expect a player with a character with high dex to suddenly start juggling chainsaws.

It's no different to me than strength or charisma so we're just going to have to agree to disagree.

 

[TorgoTheWhite]

I think maybe I use them a bit differently. With the Investigate skill pertaining to 'how things work'.. 'Study' action vs. 'Search' helps me sort them.

The way I DM them often; feels like one is about finding an unknown. The other (investigation) is working more with known commodities... so finding the hidden scrolls rack. OK, the scroll rack has been found, does one of these scrolls pertain to us? (Investigate).... The script is there, in plain sight, but what is it saying?(inv). I see the monster already, what can this monster do? (Inv). Found the trap already.. how does it disarm/work? (Inv), honestly, I feel like many cases, perc should come up front, then comes investigation. Though in my game I involve many situations where the scene is thoroughly described and what you see is what you get-so investigation is actually more useful to actually gain useful info from a scene... I've had many magic items in plain sight get passed over now due to many a player not-programmed to investigate

 

[TorgoTheWhite]

The scene is littered with plain-sight items, you perceive the non-scorched boots... and with an active perception roll in the 20's... you still perceive the same boots, they were never hidden... now synthesize the information (intelligence) with investigation and you deduce they are some magic flameproof deal.

This is the way I picture the difference anywho. But back in 3.5 and before, when you used it to search more, I'd say the differentiation was much more poor